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AN ACCURATE 

AND 3g S 

INTERESTING ACCOUNT 

OF THE 

HARDSHIPS AND SUFFERINGS 

OF THAT 

BAND OF HEROES, 

WHO TRAVERSED THE WILDERNESS 
IN THE 

CAMPAIGN AGAINST qUEBEC 

IN 177 S, ^'''^' 



BY JOHN JOSEPH HENRY, ESQ. 

LATE PRESIDENt OF tHE SECOND JUDICIAL DIS 
TRICt OF PENNSTLVANIA, 



LA^CJiSTEU: 
PRINTED BY WILLIAM GREER, 

1812. 



.^ .^ -t -^ €# -^ -t -t -^ #^ 
eY'RWRT SECURED 

According to Law. 

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1/ 



TO THE PUBLIC 



THIS work is given to the world, as left 
by judge Henry. Had he lived to superin- 
tend the printing of it himself, many altera- 
tions would, no doubt, have been made, ma- 
ny passages which may at present appear ob- 
scure, would have been fully explained, and 
many differencies of style corrected. As the 
work purports to be written by judge Hen- 
ry, it was thought improper to make any 
alterations or additions, trusting that the 
world, when acquainted with the circum- 
stances under which it was published, will 
be disposed to pardon trivial errors, as to 
the truth of the principal facts ; the following 
Ifetter, from general Michael Simpson, is am 
pie testimony : 



Deah Sir, 

I have read your work *' of the expe- 
dition through the wilderness in 1775.'' So 
flir as I was concerned, in the transactions 
related in the work, they are truly stated. 
That expedition, perhaps, the most arduous 
during the revolutionary war, is truly re- 
presented. The public may, in the general, 
be assured, that the account is s^enuine. 

Your humble servant, 

MICHAEL SIMPSON. 



LIFE OF THE 



AUTHOR. 



WEITTEIf BY HtS DAUOHTER*^ 



THERE is aiv observation trite, true, and 
universally admitted, that the lives of those who 
have not embraced a wide sphere of action, 
are uninteresting and perfectly devoid of any 
incitements to attention* Biography of Warri- 
ors, statesmen, is perused with avidity — but 
it is not merely their own history, but that of 
the times, in which they lived, at least par- 
tially so. But descending to the greater 
walks of life, when we trace the history of a 
good and unfortunate man, through all the 
varied evolutions, that peculiarly mark his 
fete, and prevent him. from being enrolled in 
the list of those beings, who have found the 
path divested of thorns — it is to some, still 
interesting ; and althougli the incidents are not 
af a^naturie to excite wonder or asioaishment^-^ 



they may still possess the power to call forth 
the sympathy of minds of ft-eling — miads that 
have been tau^^ht to feel another's woe. 

John Joseph Henry, the author of the fol- 
lowing pages, was born November 4th, 1758, 
at Lancaster, Pennsylvania — his father Wil- 
liam (-Jenry, Esq; a maa whose memo- 
ry is still revered by those who possessed 
any knowledge of him, his strict honesty and 
kiiown probity, renders it sacred to such as 
claimed him as their friend. He was pos- 
sessed of a mechanical genius in a strong de- 
gree ; he it was, who invented the well known 
screw- auger. 

Warmly addicted to this his favorite pas- 
sion, he wibiied to imbibe into the minds of 
his children, a taste for mechanics ; with some 
of them he succeeded. As soon as his son 
John Joseph, had attained the age of 14, 
he bound him an apprentice to an uncle, who 
was a gunsmith, then a resident at Lancaster^ 
but after sometime removed to Detroit, tak- 
ing his nephew v*^ith him. At that place, his 
stay was but short, on account of sciu-city of 
business— he returned on foot with a single 
guide, who died in the wilderness, which lay 
between Detroit and his home — it was here 
that h.'.rJships and misfoitune first were felt, 
his future companions during a length of 
years, devoted to God and his country.. 
Young Henry returned to his parents and 



home, dissatisfted with the employment, a 
judicious father had pointed out ibr him, as 
the means by which he wished him to gain 
a future subsistance. — His arduous mind pant- 
ed after mihtary glory: the troubles of his 
country, which was then making vig>rous, 
and ultimately successful struggles for a total 
emancipation from slavery, wrought strong- 
ly upon one, the acme of whose hopes and 
wishes was, to be one of those who contended 
most for freedom. In the fall of 1775, he 
clandestinely, joined a regiment of men r tised 
in Lancaster county, for the purpose of join- 
ing Arnold, who at that time, was stationed 
at Boston. His father was commissary to the 
troops, which office obliged him to attend 
them to Reading. It was at this time, itnder 
circumstances, \vhich rendered him most li- 
able to detection from his parent, he left his 
home to wander at the age of 16, in a strange 
land. Thus a thirst for glory, inft imed his 
youthful breast, and superseded every other 
passion and affection of his heart. After en- 
during all the fatigues of a veteran soldier, 
they entered Canada on his birthday — an 
eventful one to him. He endured hardships 
here, which in his own simple style, he fully 
enumerates. It was in prison, where he lay 
for nine^montiis, th it he contracted a disease, 
(the scurvy,) which ait that time, did not 
luiike its appearauge— -but six weeks after* 



wards on his return home, at a time when 
least expected, it made its appearance under 
ks most malignant form — it was at a time^ 
when it became a duty incumbent on him, 
to continue in the army. A captaincy had 
been procured for him in the Virginia line^ 
and a lieutenancy in that of Pennsylvania^ 
he had designed to accept of the command un- 
der the hero Morgan, which was that of cap- 
tain, but the disposer of all events, arrested 
his carreer, and instead of his fond expecta- 
tions being accomplished, all his hopes were 
blasted, his high prospects jaded, and be- 
came a dreary void, by the order of that 
Omnipotence, who furnished him with that 
fortitude, which enabled him dirough all his 
misery, to kiss the rod that chastised him'. 
It was after two years contiimance on the 
couch o[ sickness, his leg, which was ibe un- 
fortunate cause of all his illness, began to heal, 
and renovated health, to give hopes of peace 
yet remained for him. 

As his lameness precluded all possibility 
of his again entering the army ; as he had, by 
a disregard of parental authority, at least so 
far as concerned his trade, forfeited his claim 
to his father^s exertions, to place him in such 
a situation, as would make him capable of 
reiidtring himself useful to society. A vigor- 
ous effort on his part was necessary y resolu- 
tion v/as not wanting •, it was made. He 



bound himself as an apprentice to John Hiitr- 
ley, Esq. prothonotary of the county of Lan- 
caster, as a clerk in the office, here for four 
years, he pursued his business with the closest 
application, and discharged the duties of his 
office with unabated care and strictness, and 
when the labors of the day were over, his 
nights were consumed in study, endeavoring 
to compensate himself in some measure, for 
the neglect, that his education had suffered by 
his becoming a soldier. His frame still some- 
what debilitated by his illness, was not capable 
of sustaining the fatigues of ®ffice, his health 
suffered much from labour so severe and ap- 
plication so intense. The time of his inden- 
tures being expired, he commenced the stu- 
dy of the law, under Stephen Chambers, 
Esq. Here he became acquainted with his 
future companion in life, the youngest sister 
of Mr. Chambers. He practised law from 
the year 1785, until December 1793. As 
liis law knowledge was known to be exten- 
sive, his abilities and talents met their due 
reward, with an appointment, by his ex- 
celiency Thomas Mifflin, Governor, to the 
office of president, of the second judicial dis- 
trict of Pennsylvania.. 

A number of years had now elapsed, his 
family was large ; by an unfortunate removal 
to a country, at that period sickly, he was 
attacked by the gout, which from iiicxperi- 



10 

ence, and owing to his having no knowledge 
as to the consequences that would necessari- 
ly ensue, did not take proper precautions, 
so as to render it a regular disease. Under 
that deceptions name, numerous disorders 
invaded his frame, and at times with so much- 
severity, that he was necessitated to continue 
at home, and prevented him from executing 
his official duties as a judge. It was during 
seven long years of bodily suffering, that his 
mind and memory, reverted to those scenes 
(more forcibly than ever) wdiich formed so 
eventful a period in a life of misfortune and 
vicissitude. The interesting narrative of the 
sufferings of that band of heroes, of which he 
was the youngest, is a simple tale of truth, 
which he undeviatingly throughout his book 
adheres to. 

He is supported in all his assertions, by 
the testimony of a number of his compan- 
ions in that arduous campaign, men of cha- 
racter and respectability — his relation of inci- 
dents, his descriptive accounts of the coun- 
try they passed through, the situation of Que- 
bec and the disposition of the army, all mark 
him to have been a vouth of accurate ob- 
servation, of a comprehensive and intelligent 
mind. Possessing, as he must necessarily 
have done, activity of spirit and contempt of fa- 
tigue, he gained the approbation and esteem 
of his seniors. The buoyant spirits of youth 



11 



rose high over misfortune ; under the pres- 
sure of the severest distress, vivacity was 
still retained, and burst forth at intervals to 
cheer his hopeless companions. 

Disease had now made rapid progress on a 
constitution weakened by repeated attacks, 
and accumulation of disorders, which no skill 
could counteract or remedy. The nonper- 
formance of his duties caused petitions, from 
the several counties, to be presented to the 
legislature, for his removal ; nothing was al- 
leged against him but absence. That honor- 
able house, having examined and considered 
the charges, acquitted him with honor. His 
commission he retained for the space of two 
years afterwards — but illness and debility in- 
creasing, and a knowledge of his infirmities 
being incurable, compelled him to resign that 
office, which he had held with integrity, for 
seventeen years. Four months succeeding, 
his wornout frame was destined to feel the 
stroke of death, and his freed soul, to seek 
refuge in the bosom of his Father and his 
God. 



CAMPAIGN AGAINST QUEBEC, &c. 



Mt dear chlldrej?^, 

THERE is a point, in the history of the 
American revolution, hitherto little attended to ; 
as yet imperfectly related, and now at this late 
day almost forgotten ; which would deserve and 
require the talents and genius of a Xenophon, 
to do it real justice. As your father in early 
life had a concern in that adventure, permit him 
to relate to you in the words of truth, a com- 
pendious detail of the sufferings of a small band 
of heroes ; unused, to be sure, to military tac- 
tics and due subordination, but whose souls were 
fired by an enthusiastic love of country, and a 
spirit such as has often inspiried our ancestors, 
Avhcn determined to be free. In giving you this 
relation, knowing him as you do, you will scarce- 
ly call in question his vci'acity ; particularly 
when he assures you upon the honor of a gen- 
tleman and an honest man, that every word liere 
related, to the best of his recollection and be- 
lief, is literally true. He could not be so un- 
just to your morals, your veracity, or integrity, 
as to state any thing to you which he knew, or 
even suspected to be untrue. He has himself 
been too much the victim of base liars, not to en- 
deavour to eradicate so vile a principle from your 
minds. His own ediicalion, though made by his 
iruantisms, (in avoidance of the bounteous and 
B 




14 

liberal designs of his good father,) an ineor- 
Tcet one, yet the piety and real religious fer- 
vour of his parents, never would tolerate a lie. 
This mental vice, to them, was the greatest of 
all abominations, as it is Avith your father : it 
is also his most fervent hope and prayer, that 
every one of you, will not only contemn the lie, 
hut hold in sovereign detestation the liar. 

Persons at your age, and at this advanced stage 
of the improvement and melioration of our soil, 
in a climate so far south as ours, can scarcely 
form a correct conception, but from actual ob- 
servation, of the sterility, the dreariness and 
the destitution of every comfort of life, which a 
wilderness in a high northern latitude exhibits. 
A confidence however in your good sense, en- 
«iourages, and in fact animates, him, to put that 
xipon paper, which has a thousand times, in de- 
tached parcels, hcen the subject of amusing 
prattle around the fireside. This is done the ra- 
ther at this time, as some very atrocious scoun- 
*Irels who never looked an enemy in the eye, now 
assume the garlands and honors, which ought 
to adorn the brows of more worthy men. 

In the autumn of 1775, our adorable wasiiijtg- 
Toiv, thought it prudent to make a descent up- 
on Canada. A (letachment from the American 
grand army, then in the vicinity of Boston (Mas- 
sachusetts,) was organized, to fulfil this inten- 
tion, by the route of the Kenuehee and Chau- 
diere rivers. It was intended as a co-operation 
with the army of General Montgomery, who had 
<intered the same province, by the way of Cham- 
plainc and Montreal. Colonel Benedict Arnold 
was appointed the commander in chief of the 
whole division. The detachment consisted of 
eleven hundred men. Enos was second in com- 



15 

lamnd. Of this I knew nothing, but from re- 
port. Riflemen eomposed a part of* the arma- 
ment. These companies, from sixty-five to se- 
venty-five strong, were from the southward ; 
that is, captain Daniel Morgan's company from 
V^irginia ; that of captain William Hendricks^ 
from Cumberland county in Pennsylvania, and 
captain Matthew Smitli's company from the 
county of Lancaster, in the latter province. The 
residue, and bulk of this corps, consisted of troops 
from Massachusetts, Rliode-Island and Connec- 
ticut. It has flown from my memory, whether 
we had any from New-Hampshire ; but there 
is an impression on my mind that we had, as 
general Dearborne, who was of the latter pro- 
vince, commanded a company in the expedition. 
All these men were of as rude anu hardy a race 
as ourselves, and as unused to the discipline of a 
camp, and as fearless as we were. It fell to me 
to know many of them afterwards intimately; 
speaking generally, without any allusion topar-^ 
ticulars, tliey were an excellent body of men, 
formed by nature as the stamioa of an army, fit- 
ted for a tough and tight defence of the liberties 
of their country. The principal distinction be- 
tween us, was in our dialects, our arms, and 
our dress. Each man of the three companies, 
bore a rifle-barreled gun, a tomehawk, or small 
axe, and a long knife, usually called a <<scalp- 
ing-knife," which served for all purposes, in 
the woods. His under-dress, by no means in 
a military style, was covered by a deep ash- 
colored hunting-shirt, leggins and mockasins, 
if the latter could be procured. It was the sil- 
ly fashion of those times, for riflemen to ape 
the manners of savages. 



16 

Our coinmaiider Arnold, was of a remarkablii 
character. He was brave, even to temerity, was 
beloved by the soldiery, perhaps lor that quali- 
ty only:— he possessed great powers of persua- 
sion, was complaisant : but withal sordidly ava- 
ricious. Arnold was a short handsome man, of 
a florid complexion, stoutly made, and forty 
years old at least. 

On the other hand Morgan was a large strong 
bodied personage, whose appearance gave the 
idea history has left us of Belisarius. His 
manners were of the severer cast ; but where 
he became attached he was kind and truly affec- 
tionate. This is said, from experience of the 
most sensitive and pleasing nature; activity, spi- 
rit and courage in a soldier, procured his good 

ivill ana esteem* 

Hendricks was tall, of a mild and beautiful 
countenance. His soul was animated by a gen- 
uine spark of heroism. Smitli was a good look- 
ing man, had the air of a soldier, was illiterate 
and outrageously talkative. The ofTicers of the 
eastern troops, were many of them men of sterl- 
ing worth. Colonel Christopher Green seemed 
too far advanced in life for such hard service, 
yet he was inspired by an ardour becoming a 
youth. He afterwards did the public good 
service at Redbank on the Delaware, in the 
autunm of 1777. Majors Meigs, Febiger and 
Bigelow, were excellent characters. As we act- 
ed in the advance, the latter gentlemen Avere not 
well known to us, until sometime afterwards. 
Your father was too young to enjoy any other 
honor, than that of exposing himself in the cha- 
racter of a cadet, to every danger. This little 
Army in high spirits, marched from Prospect- 
hill near Cambridge in Massachusetts, on the 



17 

11th of September, 1775, and arrived at New- 
buryport (which is formed by the waters of the 
Merrimac rirer) on the folJowing day. This 
place, at that time, was a small but commercial 
town, near the border of Massachusetts. Here 
we remained encamped five days, providing our- 
selves with such articles of real necessity, as our 
small means aiforded. On the afternoon of the 
sixth day, we embarked aboard often transports | 
sailed in the evening, and at dawn of day des- 
cried the mouth of the Kennebec river. Tlie 
wind was strong but fair. The distance of tliis 
run was 150 miles. We ascended the river to 
colonel Cobourn's shipyard 5 here we left our 
vessels, and obtained batteaux, with which we 
proceeded to Fort- western. At this place, on 
the day of our arrival, an arrangement was 
made hy the commander in chief, which in all 
probability sealed the destiny of your parent. 
It was concluded, to despatch an officer and seven 
men in advance, for the purposes of ascertaining 
and marking the paths, which wei^ used by the 
Indians at the numerous carrying-places in the 
wilderness, towards the heads of the river ; and 
also, to ascertain the course of the river Chau- 
diere, which runs from the heigh th of land, to- 
wards Quebec. 

To give some degree of certainty of success 
to so hazardous an enterprise,, Arnold found it 
necessary to select an officer of activity and cou- 
rage ; the choice fell upon Archibald Steele of 
Smith's company, a man of an active, courage- 
ous, sprightly and hardy disposition, who was 
complimented with the privilege of naming his 
companions. These consisted of Jesse Wheelery 
George Merchant, and James Clifton, of Mor- 
gan's 5 and Robert Cunningham, Thomas Bovd^, 
B ^. 



18 

J^olm Tidd, and John M'Konkey, of Smith's com- 
pany. Though a very youth, yet in a small de- 
gree accustomed to hardships, derived from long 
marches in the American woods, Steele's course 
of selection next fell upon your father, who was 
his messmate and friend. Two birch-bark ca- 
noes were provided ; and two guides, celebrated 
for the management of such water craft, and 
who knew the river as high up as the Great- 
carrying-place were also found. These were 
Jeremiah Getchel, a very respectable man, and 
John Horne, an Irishman who had grown grey 
in this cold climate. 

This small party, unconscious of danger, and 
itiiimated hy a hope of applause from their coun- 
try, set forward from Fort-western in their light 
barks, at the rate of, from lifteen to twenty, and 
in good water, twenty- live miles per day. These 
canoes a^e so light, that a person of common 
strength, may carry one of the smaller kind, 
such as ours were, many hundred yards without 
halting.* Yet they will bear a great burthen, 
and swim nearly gunwale deep ; an admirable 
description of them is given by Hearne, in his 
Journey to the Coppermine-river, Steele's ca- 
noe, bore live men with their arms and baggage, 
which last was indeed light in quantity and qua- 
lity, one barrel of pork, one bag of meal, and, 
ilOO weight of biscuit. The other canoe carried 
seven men, their arms and baggage, and a due 
proportion of provisions. 

On the evening of the 2,Sd of September, our 
party arrived at Fort-Halifax, situated on the 
point, formed by a junction of the Sabasticoog 
and Kennebec rivers. Here our commander 

* Sea Note I. at the end. 



19 

Steele, wa& accosted by a captain Harwso», of 
Hucldlestone, inviting him and the company to 
his house. The invitation was gladly accepted, 
as the accommodation at the Fort, which con- 
sisted of old Block-houses and astocadein a ruin- 
ous state, did not admit of mucli comibrtj besides 
it was inhabited, as our friend the captain said, 
by a rank tory. Here for the first time the ap- 
plication of the American term ^^toi*y*'^ was de- 
fined to me hy the captain. Its European defi- 
nition was well known before. Another inter- 
esting conversation, upon the part of the captain, 
struck my mind as a great curiosity in natural 
bistory, and well deserving commemoration; he 
observed that he had emigrated to the place 
be then resided at, about thirty years before, 
most probably with his parents, for he did not 
then appear to be much beyond forty. That at 
that period the common-deer which now inha- 
bits our more southern climate, was the only an- 
imal, of the deer kind, which they knew, un- 
less it was the elks; and them but partially. 
In a short space of time the moose-deer appeared 
in small numbers, but increased annually after- 
wards, and as the one species became more nu- 
merous, the other diminished : so that the kind 
of deer first spoken of, at the time of this infor- 
mation, according to the captain, was totally 
driven from that quarter. The moose-deer reign- 
ed the master of the forest. This anecdote, if 
true, might in such minds as those of Buffon, or 
De Paw, give occasions to systems in natural-his- 
tory, totally inconsistent with the laws of nature; 
still there may be something in it ; animals like 
human beings, whether forced by necessity or 
fi'om choice, do emigrate. Many instances might 
be given of this circumstance of the animal eco- 



20 

Homy. in various parts of tlie worW. The above 
relation is the only instance wliicli has come to 
ray knowledge, where one species has expelled 
another of the same genus. If the fact be true, 
it is either effected by a species of warfare, or 
some peculiarity in tlie appearance of the one 
kind, and of horror or perhaps of disgust in the 
other, we know the rock-goat {steinhock of the 
Germans and hoquetin of the French) formerly 
inhabited the low hills of southern France and 
of the Pyrenees; they have been driven thence 
by some peculiar cause, for they are now con- 
fined to the tops of the highest mountains in 
Europe. It is true, it has been frequently ad- 
vanced by men of respectability and information 
in Pennsylvania, that the grey-fox which is indi- 
genous in the United States, and all North Ame- 
rica, has been driven from the Atlantic sea-coast 
into the interior, by the introduction of the red- 
fox from Europe. But we have no sufficient 
data to warrant this assertion. Tlie truth pro- 
bably is, that as the grey-fox is a dull and slow 
animal, compared with the sprightliness, rapidi- 
ty, and cunning of the red-fox, that the first has 
been thinned by the huntsmen, and gradually re- 
ceded from the seaeoast to the forest, where, 
from his habits, he is more secure. The cun- 
ning and prowess of the latter, has enabled him 
to !iiaintain his station among the farms, in de- 
spite of the swiftness and po^verful scent of the 
dogs. But that which puts this assertion out of 
view, is that the red-fox is indigenous through- 
out North America. He and the grey-fox are 
found in the highest latitudes, but there, their 
skins are changed into more beautiful furs than 
those of ours, by the effects of climate. An- 
other notion has been started within these 20 



2i 

J cars past, .of the fox squiprel, expelling thts 
large grey squirrel : but it is fallacious. 

Be these things as they may, we spent an 
agreeable and most soeiable evening with this 
respectable man, and his amiable family. On 
the following day, our party rose early, and ac- 
companied hj our host, waited upon the torijf 
who then sliewed himself to be an honest man, 
of independent principles, and who claimed the 
right of thinking for himself. He exchanged a 
barrel of smoke-dried salmon for a barrel of 
pork, upon honest terms. We set out from this 
place, well pleased with our host, the old tory, 
and our bargain. In a very few days, without 
other accident than the spraining of Lieutenant 
Steele's ancle, by his slipping, when carrying a 

•;>niiuc MyKv liir pntii, at viit? v» ».k-^^ 1."!*'* "»*"i: ^ 

portages, we arrived safely at Norrigewoc falls. 
Coming to the landing place, the water being 
smooth and very deep, a rock, as we passed it, 
drew my attention very particularly, it was 
standing in a conical form, five feet in perpen- 
dicular height, and ten or twelve feet in di- 
ameter at the base. I observed that next the 
water, the face of the rock, which was a blu- 
ish ilint, was, as it were, scalloped out, down 
to the very wafer's ^i\^^. Asking Getehel how 
this had occurred, his reply was that the Indi- 
ans, in former times, had from thence obtained 
their spear and arrow points. It seems unrea- 
sonuble that without a knowledge of iron, they 
shouhl have been capable of executing such a 
labour. However, upon observation and reflec- 
tion, since Getchei's time, an inducement from 
experience and reasoning occurs, which influ- 
ences me to believe, that he might have been 
correct in his observation. The roek, no doubt. 



22 

still remains, and there is leisure for inquiry 
and discussion. AVe were hurried. The village 
within one hundred yards of the pitch of the 
fall, was evidently a deserted Indian town. Wc 
saw no one there ; It was without the vestige 
of inhabitants. 33ressing our victuals here at 
mid-day, an occurrence happened, which dis- 
gusted me in an extreme degree. On this day, 
an estimate of our food was made, and an allots- 
ment in quantity to each man, though no actu- 
al separation of shares took place, as that, it 
was agreed, should happen at the twelve-mile 
carrying place. By the estimate now made, it 
seemed that there was something of a surplus. 
As we had had hard work, that and some pre- 
ceding days, and harder fare, our good com- 
^auder was inclined to indiilgc us. The sur- 
plus was allotted for this day*s fare. It hap- 
pened that M«Ko!^key was, by routine, the 
cook. He boiled the meat, (vegetable food of 
any kind was not attainable,) and when saunter- 
ing towards the fall, he called us to dinner. AVc 
came eagerly. He was seated on the earth, near 
the wooden bowl. The company reclined around 
in a like posture, intending to partake : when 
M<Konkey raising his vile and dirty hands, 
struck the meat, exclaiming, " By G — d this 
was our last comfortable meal." The indelica- 
cy of the act, its impiety, and the grossness of 
the expression, deprived the company of appe- 
tite. On several subsequent occasions M*Kon- 
key showed himself as mean in spirit, as he was 
devoid of decency. We soon rid ourselves of 
him. Many years afterwards, at Lancaster, in 
Pennsylvania, he applied and received a loan by 
way of charity from me, which he meanly soli- 
cited with the most abject sycophancy. So true 



23 

it is, in general, that those who disregard the 
social decencies of life, are equally incapahle of 
those virtues which make man respectable in 
society. 

On the afternoon of this day, we crossed to 
the west side of the river below the fall : search- 
ed for, and with difficulty found the carrying 
place. Having marked it with precision, we 
rested awhile. On the west side of the river, 
not very distant from us, there was a considera- 
ble extent of natural meadow.* One of our par- 
ty, exploring the country for deer, met with two 
white men who had come from a distance, mow- 
ing the wild grass of the meadow. An agree- 
ble barter ensued— -we gave salted pork, and 
they returned two fresh beaver tails, which, 
when boiled, renewed ideas, imbibed with the 
May-butter of our own country. Taste, howe- 
ver, is arbitrary, and often the child of neces- 
sity. Two years before this, acorns had sup- 
plied me with a precarious sustenance, on a 
journey from Sandusky to Pittsburg, it momen- 
tarily sustained life and bodily labour, but the 
consequence was ill health. Your respectable 
kinsman. General Gibson, received me into his 
house at Logstown on the Ohio, 'dud restored me 
sound to my parents. These minute matters 
are noted here, from an expectation, that know- 
ing the privations men may suffer in respect to 
food, you will each of you remember to receive 
the dispensations of Providence, of every kind, 
if not with thankfulness, at least with submis- 
sion. 

We passed the portage of Norridgewoc falls. 
Thence for several days, th« navigation for such 
canoes as ours, was tolerable, and in the most 
part convenient. We ascended the river rapid- 

* See Note II. 



24 

ly, blazing every carrying-place. Having now 
secedeil many miles from the last white inha- 
bitants at Norridgewoc, it became us therefore 
to proceed cautiously. A circumspection was 
adopted, which though prudent in the predica- 
ment we were in* appeared to be rather 4iarsh 
to the feelings ; the tiring of a gun was inhi- 
Ijited ; though the weather was chilling, we dar- 
ed scarcely make a smoke at iiight. Angling 
for trout and chub in the morning and evening, 
made up our stock of fresh food. We frequent- 
ly saw ducks, &.c. and many moose-deer, yet 
we discharged not a gun 5 \n truth we had been 
made to believe, that this country had numerous 
Indians in it. 

The party proceeded without molestation, but 
from natural rock, and a strict current (by the 
27th of September,) to the twelve-mile carry- 
ing-place. Here a new scene opened. Our guides 
professed that neither of them had ever been 
north of this place across the carrying- place, 
but Getchel alleged he had hunted to the east 
of the river. 

Now we assumed the title of being our own 
guides, giving to Getchel due respect and atten- 
tion for his iniiirmation relative to the route 
nortb. He informed me that the course of the 
river which is injudiciously called the "Dead 
river*' tended 60 or 100 miles northerly, took 
a short turn southwardly, and was then within 
12 miles of us. That that part was full of ra- 
pids, and impassable to boats, or even canoes. 
We searciicd for the earrying-pl-dce, and found 
a piith tolerably distinct, which we made more 
so by blazing the trees and snagging the bushes 
with our tomahawks; proceeding until evening, 
the party encamped at the margin of a gmall 



2i> 

lake, perhaps about half a mile wide, where 
theie was plenty of trout, which old Clifton, 
who was good at angling, caught in abundance. 
Here, in a conference on the subject, it was re- 
solved that two persons of the party should re- 
main, (with about one half of the provisions,) 
until the returu of our main body, calculating 
the return would be in eight or ten days. It 
had been observed that Clifton, being the oldest 
of the company, yet brave and a good shot, from 
the fatigues we had endured, had begun to flag. 
"With the assent of our chUvf, the younger part 
of us proposed to him to renjuin wliere we then 
were, with the belter part of the provisions. 
After considerable altercation he assented, on 
condition of his having a companion. The young- 
est of the party, nominated M*Konkey, wlio 
could not restrain his joy at l!ie proposal. It 
Avas advi^icd for them to retire to tlie south end of 
the pond, perhaps a mile, and there, as in a per- 
fect recess, remain concealed; knowing M*'Kon- 
key, the consequences were foreseen. After the 
accomplishment of this afftir, lieutenant Steele 
parted the provision appropriated fortlie march- 
ers, not by pounds or ounces, my dear children, 
but by ** whose shall be this." Some of you have 
been tauglit how this is done, if, you should 
have forgotten, it will be well now to tell you 
of it. The principal of the party, if he is a 
gentlema,n and man of honor, divides the w'joIc 
portion equally into as many parts as there are 
men including himself; this is done under the 
eyes of all concerned, and with their approhk.Jion, 
the otEcer then directs some one of the compa- 
ny to turn his back upon him, and laying his 
hand on a particular portion, asks *< whose shall 
be this ?" The answer is hap-hazard, iV. S. 6:c. 
C 



26 

ui' dwy otb^* of the party. It has fi*et|ucntly 
oecui'i'ed, that we wer©^ compelled to divide the 
necessaries of life in this way, and it could noft 
he fairly said, that any frauil or circuHivention 
took place. 

Septemher 2Sth, we left Clift-o^^ and his com- 
panion in a most dreSry wild, hut with enough 
to support them ; and if they wouW act honor- 
sihly, to assist us. A laughable occurrence en- 
sued. Sergeant Boyd and myself had, that day, 
the charge of unloading and loading the canoes, 
which, as customarily, being very light and easi- 
ly Mown off shore hy a puff of wind, were drawn 
half their lengths on the heach; we ran a race 
who should perform his duty soonest — he arrived 
iirst. Taking up his canoe suddenly, hut hop- 
ing to have a better stand than the shore pre- 
sented, he set his foot on a large hed of moss 
seemingly firm, and sunk ten feet into as cold 
water, while fluid, as was ever touched. We 
soon passed the pond, found the path, marked 
it, and came, at the end of several miles, to a 
second pond, if my' recollection serves, larger 
than the former : traversing this, we encamped 
more cautiously than ever. On the next day, 
pursuing the path, and marking it, a third pond 
of small diameter was presented to our view. 
Passing this, by the evening we encamped on 
the north-bank of the JDead-viTcr, 

This river, which is nothing more than an ex- 
tension of the Kennebec, is called by this re- 
markahle name, because a current, a few miles 
below the place we were now at, and for many 
miles above it, is imperceptible. It is deep and 
perhaps two hundred and fifty yards wide. The 
ground we footed within the last three days, is a 
very rugged isthmus, which f^ruas the great 



27 

bend of the Kennebec. Coming from the high 
ground towards the Dead-river, we passed a bog 
which appeared, before we entered il, as a beau- 
tiful plat of firm ground, level as a bowling green, 
and covered by an elegant green moss. That 
day, to save my shoes for severer service, mock- 
asins had been put in their place. Every step 
we made, sunk us knee-deep in a bed of wet turf. 
My feet were pained and lacerated by the snags 
of the dead pines, a foot and more below the 
surface of the moss ; these and many other oc- 
currences, which happened afterwards, convinc- 
ed me more than reading could, of the mannei) 
of the formation of turf. Sometimes, to ligliten 
the canoes when ascending strict water, several 
of us would disembark, and proceed along shore^ 
and on many occasions, traverse a point of land 
to save distance. Doing this^ we often met with 
what we thought a flat ground covered by moss. 
Entering the parterre, as it might be called, 
and running along that which we found to be a 
log covered with moss, the moisture on the log, 
would cause a foot to slip — down we would come, 
waist deep in a bed of wet moss; such incidents 
always created a lauglu A spark, if these beds 
of moss had been dry, as they were wet, would 
have made a dreadful conflagration: the upper 
country seemed throughout as if covered with 
it. To the south and west of the bog first men- 
tioned, there was a natural meadow of great 
extent. On the west it reached, seemingly, to 
the foot of the mountains several miles ofi*. A 
beantiful creek serj.entined through it and form- 
ed a convetiient harbor and landing place, oppo- 
site to our camp, and directly to which the jn*- 
dian path led us. 



28 

The Umber trees of this, are in a great inenr; 
sure different from those of our country. Here 
are neither oaks^ hickories, poplars, maples or 
locusts ; but there is a gi'eat variety of other 
kinds of excellent timber, such as the white and 
Vellow pines, hemlock, cedar, cypress, and all the 
species of the firs. These trees, in the low grounds, 
grow to a very large size, on the hills, as we ap- 
proach northwardly, they seem to dwindle, par- 
ticularly as we come to the *< hcighth of land ;'* 
but again rise to a superb height, as we descend 
into the intervale, on the streams running into 
Canada. Among the trees of this country, there 
are two wliich deserve particular notice, because 
of their remarkabhi qualities. These are the 
balsam fio, (Canada balsam. Balm of Gilead 
fir, or halsamnin Canadense innus halsomeci: 
which produces the purest turpentine,) and the 
yellow birch. The first, as its vulgar name im- 
ports, yields a balsamic liquid, which has been, 
and perhaps now is, much esteemed by the me- 
dical profession. The bark is smooth, except 
that there are a vast number of white and lucid 
protuberance upon it, of the size of a finger 
or thumb-nail, bulging from the surface of the 
bark. This tree grows to the size of from 15 to 
'20 inclies in diameter. From the essays made, it 
seemed to me that a vial containing a gill, might 
be filled in the space of an hour. Getchel, our 
guide, taught me its use. In the morning when 
-we rose, placing the edge of a broad knife at the 
tinder side of tiie blister, and my lips at the op- 
posite part, on the back of the knife, which was 
declined, the liquor flowed into my mouth free- 
ly. It was heating and cordial to the stomach, 
attended by an agreeable pungency. This prac- 
tice, which we adopted, in all likelihood, eorf- 




29 



cd lo tbe preservation of health* For 
though much wet weather ensued, and we lay of- 
ten on low and damp ground, and had very ma- 
ny successions of cold atmosphere ; it does not 
now occur to me, that any one of us was assail- 
ed hy sickness, during this arduous excursion. 
The yellow hireh is useful in many particular 
instances to the natives. They form the hody 
of the tree into setting-poles, paddles, spoons and 
ladles. The bark, its better properly, serves 
as a covering for the frame of the canoe, mucht 
in the same manner as the Esquimaux and Green- 
landers apply the seal skin. To you it may 
appear to be a strange assertion, but to uvq it 
seems true, that the birch- bark canoe is the most 
ingenius piece of mechanism, man in a rude 
state is capable of performing. This bold idea 
requires a disclosure of the means and the man- 
ner of the Avork, Avhich shall be done before I 
leave the subject.* From the bark of yel- 
low-birch, the Indian also forms bowls, and bas- 
kets of a most beautiful construction, and it even 
serves as a wrapper for any nice matter which 
it is wished to keep securely, much in the man- 
ner we use brown wrapping-paper. The appear- 
ance of the yellow-birch tree at a distance, i& 
conspicuous. Approaching near it, in the au- 
tumn, it seems involved in rolls, something re- 
sembling large circular rounds of parchment, or 
yellow paper. There is in my mind no ques- 
tion, but that among a numerous and industri- 
ous people, such as the Chinese, this indigenous^ 
product would become an article of general use 
in various ways. The bark, when taken fromr 



See Note III. 

€ 2 



tiieti'ee, may be obtained lengthwise of the tree^ 
from one to four feet in breadth, and of a len,^th 
equal to the circumference. It is sometimes 
white with a yellowish cast, but more usually 
of a pale, and sometimes of a deep gold colour. 
It is partible, when ever so thick, into the most 
filmy sheets. The Indians, for canoes, use it of the 
thickness of from a fourth, down to the eighth of 
an inch, according to the size of the vessel. Curi- 
osity and convenience, made us reduce it often 
to a film, by no means thicker or more substan- 
tial, than the silky paper we obtain from India. 
It serves equally well for the pencil as paper. — 
Ink' however fiows upon it. — In the course of 
time a medium may be discovered to preclude 
this inconvenience — this bark will preserve bet- 
ter than paper. 

The company, not apprehending the reverses 
which fortune had in store for them, left the 
encampment (September 30th) full of courage 
and hope, though a strong drift of snow, which 
whitened all the surrounding hills, had fallen 
during the night. Having smooth water, we 
paddled away merrily, probably for thirty miles. 
Getchel, besides his sheer wisdom, possessed a 
large fund of knowledge, concerning the coun- 
try, which he had derived from the abori- 
gines, and much humorous anecdote, with 
which, in spite of our privations, he made us 
laugh. It was omitted to be mentioned, that 
before we left our last encampment, it became 
a resolution of the whole party, that the pork 
In the possession of each one, should be ea- 
ten raw, and to eat but in the morning and 
evening. As we could not obtain food, in this 
miserable portion of the globe, even for money, 
if we had it, and having nothing else tlian oqp 



51 

az*ms and our courage to depend or* : unac- 
quainted with the true distance of our expedi- 
tion, for we had neither map nor chart, yet, 
resolved to accomplish our orders at the hazard 
of our lives — we prudently began to hoard our 
provision ; half a biscuit and half an inch square 
of raw pork, became this evening's meal. The 
days journey brought us to the foot of a rapid, 
which convinced us that the term <* Bead-river," 
was much misapplied. The night was spent, not 
upon feathers, but the branches of the fir or 
the spruce. It would astonish you, my dear chil- 
dren, if there was leisure to explain to you the 
many comforts and advantages, those trees af- 
ford, to the way-worn traveller. Suffice it now 
to say, we rested well. 

October 1st. The morning brought on new 
labors. Our secondary guide and myself, think- 
ing that we could manage the water, slipped 
into our canoe. — Getchei and another worked 
Steele's, while our companions, crossing the 
hill, marked the carrying-place. From our 
camp two-thirds at least of these rapids, were 
concealed from our view. In much danger, 
and by great exertion, we surmounted them. 
In less than an hour. Taking in our company, 
we had good water till the evening, when 
■we were impeded by a precipitate fall of four 
feet. We encamped. October 2d. Carrying 
here, we had good water all the next day: Mere 
fatigue and great lassitude of body, most likely, 
in a good measure, owing to the want of food, 
caused us to sleep well. From cautionary mo- 
tives our guns, though not uncared for, were 
considered as useless, in the way of obtaining 
food. Several of our company angled success- 
fully for trout, and a delicious chub, which we 



32 

call a fall-fisli. This place became remarkable 
to me, as someliDie afterwards, my friends gen* 
eral Simpson^ iiobert Dixoiiy and njyself, were 
here at the point of death. This you wiil iind 
in the sequel. Carrying; a few perehcs around 
this precipice, we got into good water, and 
then performed a severe days labor, 

October 3d» The evening brought us to our 
encampment, on the south side of the river. 
Artgling was resorted to for food — Sergeant 
Boyd, observing low ground on the other side 
of the river, and an uncommon coldness in the 
water, passed over, and in an hour returned 
•with a dozen trout, of extraordinary appearance. 
Long, broad and tiiick. The skin was of a very 
dark hue, beautifully sprinkled with deep crim- 
son spots. Boyd had caught these in a large 
and deep spring-head. Contrasting them with 
those we caught in the river, they were evident- 
ly of a different species. The river trout, were 
of a pale greund, with pink spots, and not so Hat 
or broad. The next day, proceeding onward, we 
here and there met with rough water. In the 
evening we were told, that on the next day, we 
probably should arrive at the camp of Natanis, 
an Indian, whom our commander was instructed 
to capture or kill. Natanis was well known to 
the white inhabitants of the lower country: they 
knew from him the geographical position of his 
residence. The uninstructed Indian, if he pos- 
sesses good sense, necessaril^y from his wander- 
ings as a hunter, becomes a geographer. This 
good man (as we subsequently knew him to be) 
had been wrongfully accused to Arnold, as a 
spy. stationed on this river to give notice to the 
British government, of any party passing this way 
into Canada : hence that cruel order. 



^3 

Ootobep 4tli. "We landed some miles below 
M^here we supposed his house vvus. Our canoes 
^ere brought upon tlic shore, and committed ta 
the care of two of the party. We arrived at the 
house of Natanis, after a march, probably of 
three miles, over a flat country covered with 
pines, he. Approaching on all sides with the 
utmost circumspection, we ran quickly to the 
cabin, our ritles prepared, and in full belief 
that we had caught Natanis. Some were per- 
suaded, at the distance of 200 yards from the 
place, that they saw the smoke of his fire : 
But the hird was ilown. He was wiser and 
more adroit, than his assailants, as you vvill 
afterwards learn. The house was prettily placed 
on a bank twenty feet high, about twenty yards 
from the river, and a grass plat extended around, 
at more than shooting distance for a riile, free 
from timber and brushwood. The house, for 
an Indian cabin, was clean and tight, with two 
doors, one fronting the river, the other on the 
opposite side. We found many articles of In- 
dian fabrication, evidently such as would not he 
totally abandoned by the owner: besides, it was 
remarked, that the coals on the hearth, from 
their appearance, had been burning at least 
within a week past. These notions did not allay 
our apprehensions of meeting with Indian ene- 
mies. The canoes, in the meantime, having 
been brought up, Ave embarked and proceeded 
with alacrity. This afternoon, in a course of 
some miles, we came to a stream flowing from 
the west, or rather the northwest. As we were 
going along in uncertainty, partly inclined to 
take the westerly stream, one of the party for- 
tunately saw a strong stake, which had been 
driyca down at the edgeoftbe water, with a 



34 

piece of neatly folded bircli-bark, inserted into 
a split at the top. The bai'k, as it was placed, 
pointed up the westerly stream, which at its 
mouth, seemed to contain more wather than tljat 
of our true course. Our surprize and attention, 
was much heightened, when opening the hark, 
we perceived a very perfect delineation of the 
streams above us, with several marks which 
must have denoted the hunting camps, or real 
abodes of the map-maker. There were some 
lines, in a direction from the head of one branch 
to that of another, which we took to be the 
course of the paths, which the Indians intended 
to take that season. This map we attributed 
to Natunis, if not his, to his brother Sabatis, 
\vho, as we afterwards knew, lived about seven 
mik^s up this westerly stream. For when our 
party, after returning to the twelve mile carry- 
ing-place, had again re-ascended the river, we 
■were told, by the crew Of one of Morgan's boats, 
that they had mistaken the westerly stream as 
the due route, and had found deserted cabins at 
the distance already nientioiied, and the pi'operty 
of the late inhabitants, placed in a kind of close 
cages, made of birch-bai*k in the forks of the 
trers ; these they most iniquitously plundered. 
Venison, corn, kettles, &c. were the product. 
Inspecting the map thus acquired, we pursued 
our journey fearlessly. Now tlie river becv;£!!e 
narrower and shallower. Tiie strength of each 
of us, was exerted at poling or paddling the 
canoes. Some strict water interfered, but in a 
few days, we came to the first pond, at the head 
of the Dead-river. — October 7th. This first 
pond, in the course of the traverse we made, 
might be about a mile, or a little more, in dia- 
meter. Here, on a small island, scarcely con- 
taining one-fourth of an acre, we discovered 



35 

and ate, a delieioH^ species of cranberry, en- 
tirely new to us. It grew upon a bush from 
ten to twelve feet higli, the stock of the thick- 
ness of the thumb, and the fruit was as large as 
a May-duke cherry. In the course of one or 
two miles, we reached a second pond. Between 
tills pond and the third, we carried ; the commu- 
nication, though not long, was too shallow for 
our canoes. The carrying-place was excessively 
rugged, and in high water, formed a part of the 
bed of the stream. The country around us, had 
now become very mountainous and rough. Se- 
veral of these mountains seemed to stand on 
insulated bases, and one in particular, formed a 
most beautiful cone, of an immense height. 
We rested for the evening. 

October 8th. Being near the heighth of land^ 
which divides the waters of New-England, from 
those of Canada, which run into the St. Law- 
rence. Tiic weather in consequence of the ap- 
proaching winter, had become piercingly cold. 
My wardrobe, was scanty and light. It consisted 
of a roundabont jacket, of wollen, a pair of 
half worn buckskin breeches, two pair of wollen 
stockings, (bought at Newbery-port,) a hat 
with a feather, a hunting-shirt, leggins, a pair of 
moekasins, and a pair of tolerably good shoes, 
which had been closely hoarded. 

We set out early, yet jovially. We entered a 
lake s.urro«nded by high and craggy mountains^ 
and perpendicular rocks of very considerable 
altitude^ which about eleven o'clock, A. M. cast 
us into a dusky shade. Pulling the paddle, as 
for life, to keep myself warm, some trifling ob- 
servation, which fell from me, relative to the 
place we were in, such as its resemblance to 
the vale of death, which drew the attention of 



k 



36 

the company : Getchel, in his dry way, turning 
toward i»it , said "Johnny, you look like a blue 
leather whet-stone." The simplicity and oddi- 
ty of the expression, and the gravity of !iis luan- 
ner, caused great merriment at my expense, it 
was enjoyed on my part, certain that it was not 
an expression of dis-esteem, but aifcction, for 
the man liked me. These minim tales and je- 
june occurrences, are related to convey to your 
minds, an idea, how men of true spirit will beard 
death in every shape, even, at times, Vv'ith laugh- 
ter, to effectuate a point of duty which is con- 
sidered as essential to the welfare of tlieir coun- 
try. Thus we went on, incessantly laboring, 
without sustenance, until we came, about 3 
o'clock, to the extreme end of a fifth and the 
last lake. This days voyage might amount to 
fifteen or twenty miles. 

On this lake, we obtained a full view of those 
hills wliich were then, and are now, called the 
^* Heigh th of land." It made an impression 
upon us, that was really more chilling, than the 
siir which surrounded us. We hurried ashore — 
drew out our canoes, and covered them with 
leaves and brush- wood. This done, with our 
arms in our hands, and our provision in our 
pockets, we made a race across the mountain, 
by an Indian path, easily ascertainable, until we 
arrived on the bank of the Cfmudiere river. 
The distance is about five miles, counting the 
rising and descent of the hill as two. This 
was the acme of our desires. To discover and 
know the course of this river, was the extent of 
our orders : beyond it, we had nothing to do. 
Our chief, wishing to do every thing a good offi- 
cer could, to forward the service, asked, if any 
one could climb a tree, around the foot of which 



37 

we then stood? It was a pine of considerable 
beight, without branches for forty feet ; Robert 
Cunningham, a strong athletic man, about twen- 
ty-five years old, presented himself. In almost 
the twinkling of an eye, he climbed the tree. 
He fully discerned the meandering course of the 
river, as upon a map, and even descried the 
lake Chaudiere, at the distance of fourteen op 
fifteen miles. The country around and between 
US and the lake, was flat. Looking westward, 
he observed a smoke; intimating this to us, 
from the tree wltere he §at, we plainly perceived 
it. Cunningham came down ; the sun was set- 
ting seemingly in a clear sky. 

Now our return commenced — It so occurred, 
that I was in the rear, next to Getchel, who 
brought it up. We ran in single file, and while 
it was light, it was observed by mej as we tried 
to stride into the footsteps of the leader, that 
he covered the track with his feet ; this was 
no mean duty. It required the courage, th© 
yigour, and the wisdom, which designates gen- 
uine manhood. Our object was> to be concealed 
from a knowledge of any one who might com- 
municate our presence there, to the Canadian 
government. The race was urged, and became 
more rapid by the indications of a most severe 
storm of rain ; we had scarcely more than got- 
ten half way up the hill, when the shower came 
down in most tremendous torrents. The night 
became dark as pitch ; we groped the way across 
the ridge, and in descending, relied on tlie ac- 
curacy of our leader, we continued with speed. 
The precipice was very steep ; a root, a twig 
perhaps, caught the buckle of my siioe : — trip- 
ped — I came down head foremost, uncoi»scioiis 
how far, but perhaps twenty or thirtv feet, 
D 



38 

How my gun remained unbroken, it is impossi- 
ble to say. When I recovered, it was in my 
hands. My companions had out stripped me. 
Stunned by the fall, feeling for the path with my 
feet, my arrival at the canoe-place was delayed, 
till ten at night, an hour and more later than 
my friends. An erection.called a tent, but more 
correctly a wigwam, was made in the hurry 
with forks, and cross-poles, covered by the 
branches of fir. It rained incessantly all that 
night. If the clothes we wore had been dry, 
they would have become wet- — so we laid down 
in all those we had on. Sleep came to my eyes, 
notwithstanding the drippings of the pelting 
storm, through the humble roof. 

October 9th. — We arose before day The ca- 
noes were urged suddenly into the water, it still 
rained hard, and at day light we thought of 
breakfasting. Gracious God ! what was ^our 
fare? AVhat could we produce for such a feast? 
Rummaging my breeches pockets, I found a so- 
litary biscuit and an inch of pork. Half of the 
liiscuit was devoted to the breakfast, and so also 
by each person, and that was consumed in the 
canoes as we paddled over the lake. The rain 
had raised the lake, and consequently the out- 
lets about four feet. We slided glibly along, 
over passages where a few days previously, we 
had toted our canoes. At the outlet of the fourth 
lake, counting as we came up, a small duck 
appeared within shooting distance. It was a 
diver, well known in our country — a thing which 
we here contemn. Knowing the value of animal 
food, in our predicament, severals of us fired at 
the diver: Jesse Wheeler, however, (who all 
acknowledged as an excellent^ shot,) struck it 
with his ball. A shout of joy arose— the little 



diver was safely deposited in oiir canoe. tVe 
went on quickly, without accident, till the even- 
ing, probably traversing a space of more than 
forty miles. At night-fall we halted, weary 
and without tasting food since morning. Boyd 
and Cunningham, who were right-hand-men on 
most occasions, soon kindled a fire against a 
fallen tree. An occurrence this evening took 
place, which my dear children you will hardly 
credit, but which (permit me to assure you) is 
sacredly true; the company sat themselves gloo- 
mily around this fire. The cooks, according to 
routine, (whether our chief or others,) picked 
the duck, and when picked and gutted, it was 
brought to the fireside. Here it became a ques- 
tion, how to make the most of our stock of provi- 
sions. Finally it was concluded to boil the duck 
in our camp-kettle, together with each man's bit 
of pork, distinctively marked by running a small 
skewer of wood throtigh it, with his particular 
and private designation. 'That the broth thus* 
formed, should be the supper, and tlie duck on 
the ensuiug morning should be the breakfast, and 
which should be distributed by «^ whose shall 
be this." Strange as this tale may appear to 
you, in these times ; the agreement was reli- 
giously performed. Being young, my appetite 
was lavenous, as that of a wolf, but honor 
bound the stomach tightly. 

"We rose early, and each person selected his 
bit of pork, which made but a single mouthful; 
-^there was no controversy. The diver was 
parted most fairly, into -ten shares, each one 
eyeing the integrity of the division. Lieutenant 
Steele causing the <* turning of the back," the 
lottery gave me a victory over my respectable 
friend Cunningham. His share, was the head 



40 

and the feet, mine one of tlic ilnglis. Hungry 
and miserable as we were, even tliis was sport 
to oui* thoughtless minds. In fact, we were 
sustained by a flattering hope, that we should 
sooj? meet our friends '* the army.'* 

8clliog out iiivAy on the 10th of October, by 
the fveoing we made nearly (ifty miles. The bit 
of pork iv.ul tite rest ot* the biscuit became my 
gijjj^jer. My colleagues were similarly situated, 
Tiie itiorriii',?^- sum saw us wiihout any food. 
We did not (hs j-.L The consolatory idea, 
that on i!»at, or ilic next day, we should cer- 
tainly Joiri the iirtny, iiitfused energy into our 
minds and bodks, Ye^ being without food, 
though we loved erali othcij every endearment 
which binds nva.n to jnan, was as it were forgot- 
ten, in a proroiind sllenec. After a long days 
journey slill we were s^ipperless. 

The succeeding morning, (titli,) starting ear- 
ly, we i»an at a monstroui rate. The waters by 
additional rains above, had risen greatly. By 
ten or eleven o'clock A. M. we observed a great 
smoke before us, which from its extent, we 
eould ascribe to nothing else, than the encamp- 
ment of the army, our friends and fellow sol- 
diers. After some time, the light canoe, seve- 
ral hundred yards before us, (with Steele and 
Getehel in its) passed between the forks of a 
tree, which lay rooted in the middle of the 
stream, where most likely it had lain for many 
years. All its branches had been worn away 
by the annual frictions of the ice or waters, ex- 
cept those wliich formed the fork, and those 
stood directly against the current, nearly a foot 
out of water, and ten or more feet apart. See- 
ing our friends pass through safely, and being 
unconscious that we were worse or less adven- 



41 

turous walernieri than tbey were, we risked iu 
We ran with great velocitj. My good Irishman 
steered. By an unlucky stroke of some one of 
our paddles, (for each of us had on^,) but from 
liis situation and power over the vessel it was 
fairly attributable to the steersman, the canoe 
was thrown a little out of its true course, just 
as it was entering the prongs of the fork. Tri- 
fling as this may appear to you, to us it was the 
signrJ of death. One of the prongs took the 
I'ight hand side of the canoe, within six inches 
of the bow, immediately below the gunwale. 
Quick as lightning that side of the canoe was 
laid open from sten» to stern, and water was 
gushing in upon us, which would inevitably 
have sunk us .in a second of time, but for that 
interference of Providence, which is atheistical- 
ly called presence of mind, otherwise a host of 
luen could not have saved us from a watery 
grave. Instinctively leaning to the left, we 
sunk the gunwale of that side down to the wa- 
ter's Qi\get by which we raised the broken side 
an inch and more out of U. Calling loudly to 
our companions ahead, they soon saw our dis- 
tress and put in, at the great smoke. Carciully 
and steadily sitting, and gently paddling, many 
hundred yards, we landed safely. Here w as no 
army, no friends, no food, — ^ordy a friendly fire, 
kindled by oui'selves as we ascended the river : 
it had been our camp. The fire we had made 
had scarcely more than smoked, but now it Iiad 
crept into the turfy soil, and among the roots 
of trees, and w as spread over half an acre. Our 
situation was truly horrible. Wisen we had ex» 
amined the broken canoe, and had ruiismaged 
both for the means of mending it, every liiart 
seemed dismayed. Our birch-bark and pitcli^ 
D2 



42 

bad been exliairsted in former repairs, — we 
were without food, — perhaps one liimdred miles 
from the army, or perhaps that army had re- 
turned to Kew England, That sensation of the 
mind called «< The horrors," seemed to prevail. 
CTctchel alone was really sedate and reiieetive. 
He ordered the other guide to seai»eh for birch- 
bark, whilst he would look among the pines 
for turpentine. We followed the one or the 
other of tlicse worthies, according to our incli* 
nations, and soon returned with those desirable 
materials. The cedar root was in plenty under 
our feet. Now a difficulty occurred, which liad 
been unforeseen, and Avhich was seemingly des- 
Iruetive of all liope. This was the want of fat or 
oil of every kind, willi which to make the tur- 
pentine into pilch. A lucky tiiought occurred 
to the youngest of the. company, tiiat the pork 
bag, lay empty and neglected, in one of the 
canoes. The thought and t\\G act of bringing a 
were instantaneous. The bag was ripped, and 
lis if it had been so much gold dust, we scraped 
from it about a pint of iVirty fat, Getchel now 
prepared an abundance of pitch. The cedai- 
root gave us Iwlne, The canoe was brought up 
to the fire. We found every rib except a few 
at tbe extreme points, actually torn from tlie 
gusiwale. All hands set to work — two hours af- 
terv»ards, the canoe was borne to the v/ater. 

We euibarked, and proceeding cautiously, as 
we thought, along tlie shore, (for we dared not 
yet, with our craggy vessel, venture into deep wa- 
ter,) a snag, standing up stream, struck through 
the bottom of the canoe. This accident hap- 
pened about live hundred ;^ards from the fire. 
We pat back with heavy hearts and great diffi- 
culty — our friends followed. It took an hour to 



43 

patch th€ gap. Tii€ cup of soft'Oi-v was n»i yet 
fulL As th-e njen were beari»ig tl.e wah nled 
canoe to the water, sergeant Boyd who |>ackllc<i 
in the small canoe, which was di*Hwn up as 
usual, taking hold of the bow raised it waist 
high (as was right) intending to slide it gently 
into the water— the bank was steep and slipp'ry* 
Oh ! my dear children, you cannot conceive the 
dread and horror the succeeding part of this 
scene produced in our minds : Mr. Boyd's feet 
slipped — the canoe fell from his hands— its own 
weight falling upon the cavity, formed by the 
declivity of the bank and the water— broke it 
in the centre, into two pieces, and which wer6 
held together by nothing but the gunwales* 
Now absolute despair for the first time seized 
me. A thought came across my mind, that the 
llmighty had destined us to die of hunger, in 
this inhospitable wilderness. The recollection 
«>f my parents, my brothers and sister, and the 
clandestine and cruel nsanner of niy deserting 
ihem, drew from me some hidden, yet burning 
tears, and much mental contrition. This was 
unknown, unseen and unheard of by any, but he 
who is present every where, knows every thing, 
and sees our inmost thoughts. Getchel, (com- 
paring small things with great, who much re- 
sembled Romer's descriptson of Ulysses, in his 
person, and whose stayed and sober wisdom and 
ibresight, also bore a likeness to the ta- 
lents of that hero,) resigned, yet thoughtful 
and active, instantly went to work. The canoe 
was brought to the fire, and placed in a proper 
]M)sture for the operation. The lacerated parts 
were neatly brought together, and sewed with 
cedar root. A large ridge of pitch, as is cus- 
tomary in the construction of this kind of water 



44 

craft, was laid over tlie seam to make it \vatei'- 
tight. Over the seam a patch of strong bark a 
foot in width, and of a length sufficient to encir- 
cle the bottom, even to the gunwales, was sewed 
down at the edges and pitched. Again over the 
whole of the work, it was thought prudent to 
place our pork bag, which was well saturated 
with liquid fat. It was a full yard Avjde, and 
was laid down in the same manner. This work 
which was laborious nearly consumed the rest 
of the day. 

We set out notwithstanding the lateness of the 
hour, and would it is likely have gone all night, 
well knowing the water below to be good, but 
for an enlivening occurrence, which soon after 
happened. Hunger drove us along at a cautious 
but rapid rate. The sterility of the country 
above, had afforded us no game, neither moose, 
bear nor wolf: nothing in short, but the diver, 
and a red pine squiiTcl, which was too small and 
cjuick to be killed by a bullet. These squirrels 
did not much exceed in size our striped ground 
squirrel. About dusk the lieutenant's canoe, 
four hundred yards before us, had within view, 
turned a sharp point of land, when we heard the 
crack of a rifle, and presently another and a huz- 
za. Apprehending an attack from an enemy, 
we pulled hard to be enabled to sustain our 
friends. In a moment or two, observing them 
pulling for the north shore, which was steep, we 
looked up it for the enemy. Good Heavens ! what 
a sight ! We saw a moose-deer, fulling on the 
top of the bank. A cry of exultation seemed 
to burst the narrow valley of the river. Steele 
had struck the deer in the flank, as it was leav- 
ing the water, but it sprung up the bank with 
agility. Wheeler, with better fortune for us all, 



45 

pierced its heart as it arrived at the top. See- 
ing this you can scarcely imagine the celerity of 
our movements, We were ashore in a moment. 
A fire was kindled, the secondary guide cut off 
the nose, and upper lip of the animal, instantly, 
and had it on the fire. What a feast ! But we 
were prudent. We sat up all night, selecting 
the fat and tit hits— frying, hoiling, roasting 
and hroiling, hut carefully eating little at a time. 
Towards morning, we slept a few hours, ahso- 
lutely careless of consequences. AYe knew that 
>vc had arrived in a land where game was plenti- 
ful, and where thrre were no foes superior to our 
numher, to oppose us. 

Oct. 12. — We rose after sunrise, and hegan ac- 
cording to practice, to examine and prepare our 
guns. Preparctl, iiiine, was placed against a 
tree ; my duty, in course, was of the culinary 
kind. George Merchant, njy coadjutor, had 
gone to the river for w^ater. He ran hack seiz- 
ed his own gun, and intimated that a bull moose 
was swimming across the river towards the 
camp. We jumped to our arms — it so happened 
that my station was rearward. The enormous 
animal was coming towards us, and not more 
than fifty paces off, his head and horns only 
above water. The sight was animating. Wheel- 
er and some others fired at his head, but with- 
out effect. The extreme desire they had to pos- 
sess so noble a prey, probably caused a tremor 
of tliR hand, or that part of his body was impen- 
etrable to our small balls, which is most likely. 
The moose turned and swam to the opposite 
bank. Having got to the verge of the river,, his 
emerging was awaited. My ball struck precise- 
ly where it ought to kill. The huge animal 
rose the bank by several boggling leaps, but 



46 

seemed unknowing which way to run — We thought 
he would fall. Wheeler, and some others, get- 
ting into the canoes, pursued him by his blood 
half a mile. When Wheeler returned, he over- 
loaded me with praises for the accuracy of the 
shot, and was confident that the deer was kil- 
led. We had no time to spare. We feasted 
till noon, and in the intermediate moments, cul- 
led the entrails for the fat : we even broke the 
bones, and extracted the marrow, under the full 
persuasion, that food of an oily nature, is one of 
the strongest mainstays of human life. Of this 
principle, if we had a doubt, we were shortly 
afterwards most irrefragably convinced. We 
departed from our camp joyously, untorturcd 
by the fear of starving: our eano^ suuk deep 
by the weight of our venison. Running some 
miles and suddeiily doubling a point, we saw a 
large grey wolf sitting on his haunches — he was 
fired at, but the distance was too great, — He es- 
caped. Looking down the river we saw a moose 
swimming from the main to an island — it was 
soon brought down. It proved to be young — of 
about 300 weight. Its ears and flanks were much 
torn by the wolf. This prize constituted veal in 
our larder. The choice parts were deposited in 
the canoes — the residue was at the disposal of 
the wolf. 

The following morning, (October 13th,) cm- 
barking early, after noon we arrived at our first 
encamping ground on the " Dead river," in 
good health and spirits ; though pallid and weak, 
for the want of substantial food in due quantity. 

By this time the fat and marrow, of the ani- 
mals we had killed, were exhausted, and our 
stock of salt had been long since expended. One 
who has never been deprived of bcead and 



47 

salt, nor known the absence of oleaginous sub- 
stances in his food, cannot make a true estimate 
of the invaluable benefits of such ingredients, 
in the sustentation of the bodily frame ; nor of 
the extremity of our corporeal debility. 

We ascended the bank, which is steep, and 
about fourteen feet high, carrying our biiggage, 
arms and venison, leisurely, by piecemeal. The 
canoes, as being too heavy for our strength, 
were secured below, in the water, by withes. It 
Was immediately concluded to preserve our pro- 
visions by jerking. This operation is done by 
slicing the meat into thin strips. Then driving 
four forks into the earth, in a square position, 
at the required distance perpendicularly, and 
laying poles from lork to fork, and poles athwart 
from pole to pole. A rack is thus made, about 
four feet high, on which the sliced meat is laid, 
and smoke-fires are made underneath. This du- 
ty was soon performed. We now began to look 
about us, and discuss the subject of our return 
to the army, which we had, before this time, 
persuaded ourselves we should meet at this place. 
The non-appearance of the army and our dis- 
tress, induced a conclusion that we were desert- 
ed, and abandoned to a disastrous fate, the ine- 
vitable result of which Avould be, a sinking into 
eternity for want of food, for though we might 
have killed more deer, the vigour of our bodies 
was so reduced, that we were convinced that 
that kind of food, could not restore us to our 
wonted energy, and enable us to perform so rug- 
ged and long a march, as that to the frontiers of 
Maine. The notion of navigating the river, 
"was scouted as a fallacy, because we did not 
possess a suflicient degree of bodily force, to 
fjear the canoes across the tweive-miic-carrying- 



48 

place. As, in the case of the retreat of the ar- 
my, we had determined to follow, it became re- 
quisite to finish the jerking, which would take 
six days, to make it the more portable, for our 
feebleness, and preservable if Ave should have 
wet weather on the march. It was further con- 
cluded <« That lieutenant Steele, Getchel and 
Wheeler, should immediately proceed on foot 
across the twelve-mile-carrying-place, to meet 
the army : If they did meet it, that they should 
return to us with supplies by the end of tiiree 
days, but in all events to return.^' Having 
no doubt of the honor of those gentlemen, 
the rest of the party remained, clicerfuiiy 
jerking the meat. Now we experienced the full 
extent of anew species of starving. Having nei- 
ther bread, nor salt, nor fat of any kind, every 
day we remained here, we became more and 
more weak and emaciated. We had plenty of 
meat, both fresh and dried, of which we ate 
four, five and six times a day, in every shape we 
had the means of dressing it. Though we 
gorged the stomach, the appetite was unsatiated. 
Sosnething like a diarrhcsa ensued, whicli con- 
tributed to the imbecility of our bodies. Bears 
oil would have made our venision savoury, but 
such an animal as a bear, avc had as yet not seen 
in all our wanderings. On the evening of the 
fourth day, we looked out for our absent com- 
panions with much heartfelt anxiety. They 
came not. In the morning of the next day, we 
consulted upon the question whether we should 
follow the army. A majority voted for staying 
a few days longer to complete the jerking. To 
shew you the great bodily weakness we were 
bi'ought to, it may be proper to relate the fol- 
lowing anecdote as more evincive of the fact. 



49 

than any other method wirfch might be adopted^ 
to bring it (ulJy to your minds. Sergeant Boyd 
(tlie strongest and stoutest man of the party, 
and perhaps of the army,) and myself, taking 
our arms, descended into a canoe, and passedl 
the river, to the mouth of the creek before men- 
tioned, intending to go to the next pond on the 
carrying-place, there to meet, as we hoped, the 
advance of the army. We staggered along 
through the plain, falling every now and then, 
if our toes but touched a twig or tuft of grass. 
Thus going forward, we arrived at the edge of 
the moss- bog, which is mentioned as we ascend^ 
ed the river, and which is one and a half, or 
two miles from the pond. Here my worthy 
friend Boyd, unable to proceed, sunk down up- 
on a log. My seat, in tears of excruciating 
grief, was taken beside him, endeavoring to in- 
fuse comfort and courage into his manly miiid— ^ 
it was in vain. The debility of his body had 
disarmed his courageous soul. Eyery art in my 
power was exercised to induce him to pass the 
%u^ — he would not listen to me on that subject. 
Melancholy of the desperate kind oppressed me. 
Convinced that the army had retreated, a prog- 
nostication resulted in my mind, that we should 
all die of mere debility in these wilds. We sat 
an hour. At length we agreed to rettsrn to our 
camp, though it was yet early in the afternoon. 
Our companions were pleased to see us, think- 
ing our coming so soon, indicated good news, 
but a gloom of desperation followed. As a last 
eiibrt to save our lives, we all agreed to pass 
the river the next morning and follow the army, 
which we were now assured, had returned to 
Fort- Western. Each one put into his knapsack, 
E 



50 

as much of our mawldsli food, as he eouid con- 
veniently carry. 

Oct. 17. — We started early, passed the river, 
hut from meve inability to carry our canoes, left 
til em behind us, at the bank of the creek. 
Marching forward, as fast as our feeble limbs 
would carry us. When we came to the log 
where Boyd had seated himself, we were tilled 
witli extatic joy to observe, on the far side of 
the bog, a party of pioneers forming a causeway 
for the passage of the army. Our strength re- 
doubled — we passed the bog with considerable 
speed. Our wan and haggard faces, and mea- 
gre bodies, and the monstrous beards of my 
companions, who had neglected to carry a razor 
with them, seemed to strike a deep sorrow into 
the hearts of the pioneers. They gave us a 
little of their food, hut what exhilarated us 
move, was the information, that major Febiger 
with the advanced-guard, lay at the next pond. 
"We urged forward as fast as we could. * Arriv- 
ing at his lire a little before my company, an 
incapacity to stand compelled me to sit. Febi- 
ger, in a hurried manner, asked who we were ? 
and from whence we came ? A few words ex- 
plained the mystery and cause of our dis- 
tress. A glistening tear stood in this brave sol- 
dier's eye. As it were with a sudden and invo- 
luntary motion and much tenderness, he handed 
me his wooden canteen, (which contained the last 
spirits in the army,) from me it passed to Cun- 
ningham, who had just come up, the most ghast- 
ly and way-worn ligure in nature, from him it 
went round to the rest, who arrived gradually, 
but slowly. The heart of Febiger seemed over- 
joyed at the relief lie had, and could afford us. 
The liquor had restored our fainting spirits, but 



51 

this was not enough for his generosity to exhi- 
bit. He requested us to take seats around the 
lire, and wait the boiling of his kettle, which 
>vas well replenished with pork and duinpjins. 
This was all devoted to our use, aeconrpaniof* 
by an open heartedness and Vae kindest expres 
sions of interest for our suffei-ings, and regard 
for our perseverance in our duty as iisiiitary 
niej!. This nieai to all of us seemed a renewal 
of life. It was accustomed food. Febiger, ere 
this time, was unknown to us, but in the pro- 
cess of events, he acquired our esteem and en- 
tire confidence, as a friend and a real soldier. 
Our more immediate and intiiiiate friends, were 
still beyond tlie pond, but coming forward. By- 
and-by Morgan came, large, a commanding as- 
pect, and stentorian voice. He wore leggsns, 
and a cloth in tlie Indian style. His thighs, 
Avhich were exposed to view, appeared to have 
been lacerated by the thorns and bushes. He 
knew our story from Steele and Wheeler, and 
greeted us kindly. We now found ourselves at 
home, in the bosom of a society of brave men, 
with whom we were not only willing, but anx- 
ious to meet the brunts of war. This was the 
twenty-sixth day we had been absent from the 
army. In the evening we resumed our stations 
in our respective messes. It was now fully ex- 
plained to us, why Steele had not brought us 
relief. He had met the advance of the army 
on the Kennebeck side of the carrying-place. 
Always alert and indefatigable, when any duty 
was to be done : the labours of the men in car- 
rying boats, barrels of flour, &c. were intoler- 
able, and required the strength and athletic 
exertions of the officers, and particularly such 
as lieutenant Steele, to enliven them in their du- 



52 

ij. In bearing a heavy burden over rugi^ed 
^^Tound, he fell and sprained or disloeated I sis 
rshoulder. Notwithstanding this 'accident, he 
had sent us supplies, but the bearers, either from 
cowardice or other cause, never came near us, 
Oetchel and Wiieeler had other duties to attend 
to— -they were under ionuediate command. We 
also discovered iVom Steele, that Clil'ton and 
M'Konkey, soon after we left them, had desert- 
ed their post, carrying all they couhl on their 
hacks, to meet the army. The dastardly vices 
of the hitter, prevailing over the known cou- 
rage, good sense, and sedate age, of the for- 
mer : nothing occurs to nje contributory to the 
fame of these men afterwards. Tlte first was 
an invalid, the latter a caititl' coward. In your 
scanning the characters of men, ^vhieh you will 
be competed to do in your or, n defence, in the 
course of your lives, it will be a good general 
rule for you to adopt : That whether you be 
in the company of military men— scholars — mca 
of the law — legislators, kc, &c. in short, per- 
sons of any profession or class, if you find a 
person very loquacious — dragging the conversa- 
tion to himself, and in a dictatorial way taking 
the lead ; but more especially if he talks of his 
own prow ess — deep reading — causes he has gain- 
ed — eloquence, &c. &c. but still more so if the 
party boasts of wealth or ancestry. In the 
first instance, without hesitation, set such a 
person dow n in your memory as a braggadocio, 
a mere puffer, until you can inquire further for 
proof to the contrary. There are, to my knowl- 
edge, exceptions to this general rule, but few 
in number, particularly in the military class. 
M'lvonkey was of the puffing sect, and there 



never was a more consummate scoundrel and 
coward. 

October IStli. — Now we turned our faces to- 
wards the north. Having rejoined our mess- 
mates^ enjoying substantial food and warm tents, 
we soou recruited a good degree of strength, 
and our former gaiety of temper and hilarity re- 
turned to us. We accompanied the army, and 
became a kind of guides in minute matters, for 
the paths and carrying places we had sufficient- 
ly developed, for captain Ayres and his pioneers, 
by strong bluzing and snagging of bushes, so 
that he might proceed in perfect security, in the 
performance of the duties of his office. The 
three companies of riflemen under Morgan took 
up our old encamping ground on the ^* Dead 
I'iver," during the afternoon of the following 
day. 

Oct. 19th & 20th. — Here we lay encamped for 
several days, waiting tiie arrival of the rear of 
the New England troops : they came up hourly. 
During our stay here, it pleased me internally, 
to observe, that Morgan adopted certain rules 
of discipline, absolutely necessary to the state 
we were in, but discordant with the wild and 
extravagant notions, of our private men.* Pow- 
der and ball, particularly the first, to us rifle- 
men was of the first consequence. At Cam- 
liridge the horns belonging to tlie men, were fil- 
led with an excellent rifle pow der — >Yhich, when 
expended, could not be replaced in Canada by 
any powder of an equal quality. The men had 
got into a habit of throwing it away at every 
trifling object. Upon our return from the Chau- 
diere, this circumstance raised disgust in lis : 

* See Note IV. 

E 3 



54 

for wc liad been studiously careful of our aiu- 
munitiou, never firing but at some object which, 
would give us the means of subsistence. Though 
we drew our loads every morning, from a fear 
of the dampness of the atmosphere, yet the ball 
and powder were never lost. Our bullet screws 
brought the first out with ease, and it was re- 
cast — the latter was carefully returned to the 
horn, where, if moist, it soon became dry. The 
principal of Morgan's i>ules were, that there 
should be no straggling from the camp; — and 
no firing without authoritative permission. Rea- 
sonable as these injunctions were, they were op- 
posed. Being young and my friend Steele ab- 
sent, a whisper of approbation did not fall from 
me, which, inmy subordinate station, might have 
been indelicate. It was left to the energy of 
Morgan's mind, and he conquered. During our 
resting here, Arnold, accompanied by Steele and 
some excellent boatmen, proceeded to the head 
of the river. The rifle corps preceded the 
main body of the army, both by land and water. 
The boats, which were heavily laden with bag- 
gage and provisions, took in no more men than 
were necessary to navigate them, that is, three 
to a boat. The remainder of the army marched 
by land, the river being generally the guide. 

Here, my dear children, permit me to give you 
the genuine character of my friend, general 
Simpson, whom you all know personally. He 
was among my earliest and best friends. He 
was then as apparently eccentric, as he is at this 
time : there is no obvious difference in his man- 
ners between the two periods. As an officer, he 
was always active and keen in the performance 
of his duty. Hard was the service ; but his 



55 

heart was soft to his friend. Simpson invited 
his messmate aboard his boat, being still some- 
what feeble from our late privations : the invi- 
tation was gladly accepted. 

Oct. 21st, — Weerabarked. Having lieut. Simp- 
son for a steersman, and John Tidd and James 
Dougherty as boatmen, we went gaily on for 
that and the next day : able to lead any boat in 
the river. 

October 22d. — On the evening of this second 
day, we encamped on a bank eight or nine feet 
high, at a place where we had rested when as- 
cending the river the first time. In the evening 
a most heavy torrent of rain fell upon us, which 
continued all night. Having now a good tent 
over our heads, the incovenience was not much 
felt. We slept soundly. Towards morning, we 
were awaked by the water which flowed in upon 
us from the river. We fled to high ground. 

Oct. 23d. — When morning came the river pre- 
sented a most frightful aspect : it had risen at 
least eight feet, and flowed with terrifying ra- 
pidity. None but the most strong and active 
boatmen entered the boats. The army marched 
on the south side of the river, making large cir- 
cuits to avoid the overflowings of the intervale 
or bottom lands. This was one of the most fa- 
tiguing marches we had as yet performed, though 
the distance was not great in a direct line. 
But having no path and being_ necessitated to 
climb the steepest hills, and that without food, 
for we took none with us, thinking the boats 
would be near us all day. In the evening we 
arrived at the fall of four feet, which was men- 
tioned when ascending the river. Alas ! all the 
boats of the army were on the opposite side of 
the river. The pitch of the fall made a dread- 



m 

ful noise, and the current ran with immense XA- 
locity. We sat down on the bank sorely pinch- 
ed by hunger, looking wistfully towards our 
friends beyond the torrent, who were in pos- 
session of all tiie provisions, teYits and camp 
equipage. Convinced however, that the most 
adventurous boatman would not darer the pas- 
sage, for the sake of accommodating any of us. 
We were mistaken. There were two men, and 
only two who had skill and courage to dare it. 
Need lieutenant Simpson on an occasion like this, 
be narHe»i ; he, accompanied by John Tidd, en- 
tered his etifipty boat. What skill in boatman- 
ship ! what aptitude with the paddle was here 
exhibited. The principal body of the water 
rnn over the middle of the fall, and created a 
foaming and impetuous torrent, in some mea- 
sure resembling, at this particular time, of a 
very high freshet, that of the Oswego-falls, 
wiiii'h had been known to me ere this. The 
river was about 150, or 200 yards in breadth, 
counting on tJie increase of water by the rains. 
The force of the central current, naturally form- 
ed considerable eddies at each side of the river, 
close under the pitch. Simpson now disclosed 
his amazing skill, Though there was an eddy, 
even that was frightful, he came hy its mean 
nearly under the pitch, and trying to obtain an 
exact start, failed. The stream forced his boat 
down the river, but he recovered and brought 
it up. Now we, who were trembling for the fate 
of our friend, and anxious for our own accom- 
modation, began to fear he might be drawn 
under the pitch. Quick, almost in a moment, 
Siirtpsvm was with us. He called in his loud 
voice to Jiobert Dixon, James Old (a messmate) 
ami myself to enter the boat— We entered im- 



57 

mediately. He pushed off; attempting the start 
by favor of the hither eddy, which was the 
main thing — we failed. Returning to the shore, 
we were assailed by a numerous band of soldiers, 
hungry, and anxious to be Avith their couipan- 
ions. Simpson told them he could not carry 
more with safety, and would return for them. 
Henry M^Annaly, a tali Irishman, who could not 
from experience, compre'iend the danger, jump- 
ed into the boat, he was followed by three or 
four other inconsiderate men. . The counten- 
ance of Simpson changed, his soul and mine 
were intimate <« O God," said he, ^*men we shall 
all die." They would not recede. Again we 
approached the pitch ; it was horrible. The 
batteaux swam deep, almost ungovernable hj the 
paddle. Attempting itgain to essay the depar- 
tur<> — we failed. The third trial was made : it 
succeeded. As lightning we darted athwart the 
river. Simpsoii with his paddle, governed the 
stern. The worthy Tidd in the bow. Dixoii 
and myself, our guns stuck in the railing of the 
batteaux, but wiiliout paddles, sat in the stern 
next to Simpson. Mr. Old was in the bow near 
TIjUi. Henry M*Annaly was adjoining Mr. Old. 
The other men sai between the stern and bow. 
Simpson called to the men in the bow, to lay hold 
of the birch bushes — the boat struck the slioi*e 
forcibly: they cauglit hold, M*Annaly in parti- 
cular, (this was in the tail of the eddy,) but like 
chiklre»>, their holds slipped, at the only spot 
whei't v/e could have been saved ; for the boat 
had been judiciously and safely brought up. 
liCtting go their holds, the bow came round to 
the stream, and the stern struck the shore. 
Simpson, Dixon, and myself, now caught the 
bushes, but being by this time thrown into the 



58 

current, the strength of the water made the 
wthes, as so many straws in our hands. The 
stern again swung round: the how eame again 
ashore. Mr. Old, Tidd, and M^Annaly, and the 
rest, sprung to the land to save their lives. Do- 
ing this, at our cost, their heels forced the hont 
across the current. Though we attempted to 
steady it, the hoat swagged. In a moment af- 
ter, at thirty feet off shore, it heing broad side 
to the current, turned 5 borne under, in spite of 
all our force, by the fury of the stream. The 
boat upsetting, an expression, as going into the 
water, fell from me, ^* Simpson we ^re going to 
heaven.*' My fall was head-foremost. Simp- 
son came after me — his heels, at the depth of 
fifteen feet or more, were upon my head and 
neck; and those grinding on the gravel. We rose 
nearly together, your father first — my friend 
followed. The art of swimming, in which, I 
thought myself an adept, was tried, but it was 
a topsy-turvy business, the force of the water 
threw me often heels-over-head. 

In the course of this voyage, after a few hun- 
dred yards, Simpson was at my side, but the 
force of the stream, prevented the exertion of 
swimming ^ yet the impetuosity of the current, 
kept us up. It drove us toward the other side of 
the river, against a long ridge of perpendicular 
rocks of great extent : Luckily in the course of 
some hundred yards, the current changed, and 
brought us perforce to the north side of the 
river. Floating along with my head just above 
water — prayers in sincere penitence having been 
uttered, a boat's crew of the eastern men, hand- 
ed me a pole. It was griped as by the hand of 
death — but griped the pole remained to me. The 
strength of water was sucJi, that the boat would 



59 

inevitably have upset, if the boatman had kept 
his hold. A gkiiice of the eye iafoi'sneu ine, 
that aiy companion in misfortune, had shared 
the same fate. Resigned into the bosom of my 
Saviour, Biy eyes became closed; the death 
appeared to me, a hard one ; sensibility in a 
great degree forsook me. Driving with the cur- 
rent soiiic hundreds of yards iii<)re, the most 
pjilpable feeling recollected, was the strikmg of 
my breast against a root or hard substance. 
My head came above water. Breathing eiisn- 
cd; at the same moment Simpson raised his 
head out of the water, his gold laced hat on it, 
crying <*0h !" neither of us couid have crept out : 
we should have there died; but for tiie assis- 
tance of Edward Cavanaugh, an irish man, an 
excellent soldier, who was designated in the com- 
pany by the appellation of *< Honest Ned." Pas- 
sing from the lower part of the river, he liappen- 
ed 10 come to the eddy, at the instant of time my 
breast struck. He cried out "Lord Johnny ! is 
this you? and instantly dragged me out of the 
Avater. Simpson immediately appearing, he did 
him the same good office. Lying on the earth 
perhaps twenty minutes, the water pouring from 
me, a messenger from the camp came to rouse 
us. Roused we went to it. But all eyes looked 
out for Dixon,- all hearts were wailing for his 
loss. It was known he could not swim, but none 
of us could recollect whether he had dropped 
into the water or had adhered to the boat. In 
some time we had the inexpressible pleasure of 
Dixon in our company. He had stuck to the 
side of the boat, which lodged on a vast pile of 
drift wood some miles below, and in this way 
he was saved. Arriving at the camp our friends 
had a large fire prepared, particularly for our 



60 

accommodation ; heat upon such an oceurrenee 
is most agreeable. Mj two friends in distress, 
whose ch)thing was principally woollen — felt 
none of my private disaster. My leather breeches 
attached closely and coldly to the skin. Modes- 
ty prohibited a disclosure. Tiie sense of pain 
or inconvenience v/hich was observed hy my 
seniors, caused an inquiry. Immediately the 
hreeches were off and stuck upon a pole to dry, 
Simpson was so much exhilarated by our es- 
cape, that seated on a stump, he sung ♦< Plato" 
in great glee. It became a favorite with us. 
During all this time, perhaps till one or two 
o'clock, my breeches were in my hand almost 
in continued friction. The laugh of the com- 
pany was against me, but it was borne stoically. 
The following: morning, (October 24,) pre- 
sented me with many difficulties: to be sure my 
horn, with a pound of powder, and my pouch, 
with seventy bullets, were unharuicd by the 
water, though around my neck in the course of 
oni" swimming : Yet I had lost my knapsack, 
iiiy bat, and my most precious riile. Awaking, 
the world appeared to bo a wild waste. Dis- 
armed, my insignificance pressed strongly on 
my mind — dishonor seemed to follow of course. 
Without the armour of d^encCf men and nations 
are mere automatons, liable to be swayed by 
the beck of power and subject to the hand of 
oppression. Young as your father was> his soul 
was oppressed. To return with the invalids 
was dreadful, and without arms, he could 
not proceed. Comfort came to me in the shape 
of lieutenant, now general Nichols, then of 
Hendricks. lie had two hats — he presented 
me one : hut what was more to my purpose^ he, 
^v general Simpson, informed mo, that some of 



61 

the invalid's wished to dispose of their rifles. 
With the assistance of Nichols and Simpson, a 
bargain was struck with a person called Wil- 
liam Reynolds, or Rannels, of our company^ 
who was miserably sick, and returned in the 
boats. Money was ont of the question, an or- 
der upon my father, dated at this place, for the 
price of twelve dollars was accepted, and after- 
wards in due time, paid honorably. This gun 
v/as short, about 45 balls to the pound, the 
stock shattered greatly, and worth about 40 shil- 
lings. Necessity has no law. Never did a gun, 
ill as its appearance was, shoot with greater 
certainty, and where the ball touched, from its 
size, it was sure to kill. This observation, trif- 
ling as it may seem, ought to induce govern- 
ment to adopt guns of this size, as to length of 
barrel, and size of bull. There are many rea- 
sons to enforce this opinion. We departed from 
this place, without any material occurrence, 
and went rapidly forward. 

Somewhat laugliable ensued on the morning 
of the 27th of October, near the first pond, at 
the head of the river. The Virginians (though 
it is not probable that any of the officers, ex- 
cepting one) had taken up the idea, that they 
were our superiors in every military qiialiiU'a- 
lion, and ought to lead. Hendricks, tiiosigh 
the oldest commissioned officer of the rille eom- 
panies, was still the youngest man. For the 
sake of peace and good order, he had not as- 
sented to, but merely acquiesced in Morgan's 
assumption of the command of our corps, as the 
elder person. Those men, who were clever and 
brave, were just such in that behalf, as we were 
ourselves : but a Mr. Heath, who was blind of 
an eve, a lieutenant of Morgan's, seemed to 
F 



' 62 

lliiiili, that all others were inferior to tbose of 
ihe " ancient dominion." We had a hard. morn- 
ing's pushing, when coming up to the first pond, 
at the head of tlie *< Dead-river," we saw Heath 
before us. Observing to Simpson, ^^pusli Mm," 
we went up with mucli force ; poor Heath la- 
boring as a slave, to keep his place. Tidd and 
Dougherty, felt my spirit, as much as Simpson 
did. At tlie moment of our passing, for we 
went up on the outside of him, towards the mid- 
dle of the current, his pole stuck — upon which 
he gave us a few hearty curses. Entering the 
lake, the boat under my guidance and informa- 
tion, steered directly for the passage to the se- 
cond lake. Humphreys (Morgan's first lieuten- 
ant) a brave and most amiable man, whom we 
highly esteemed, was in a boat far to the left, 
searching for a passage. Simpson, at my in- 
stance, hailed him to come on. — He answered 
there was no jjassagc there, alluding to the place 
we steered for. Encouraging my friend to go 
on, the deception Humphreys lay under, >vas 
soon discovered. The creek was deep and ser- 
pentine, and the country around, for a consider- 
iible distance, a flat. ^A log brouglit down by 
the last freshet, lay across the stream, so as to 
give to a stranger the idea, that the mouth of 
the creek, wa« merely a nook of the lake. Set- 
ting the log afloat, as was easily done, the boat 
proceeded. 

• October 28. Continuing rapidly, for now we 
liad no carrying, nor marking of trees, there 
being plenty of water, the evening was spent at 
the foot of that mountain, called the Heighth- 
of-land. This was a day of severe labor. The 
navigation of the Chaudiere, being so far as 
«ur information went, represented to the cap- 



63 

tains, Hendricks and Smith, as very danger- 
ous, they, to save their men, concluded to 
carry, over the hill, but one hoat for each 
of their companies. This resolution was easi- 
ly accomplished. Morgan, on the other hand, 
determined to carry over all his boats. It would 
have made your heart ache, to view the intoler- 
able labors his fine fellows underwent. Some 
of them, it was said, had the flesh worn from 
their shoulders, even to the bone. The men 
said it ; but by this time an antipathy against 
Morgan, as too strict a disciplinarian had arisen. 

On the following day, (October 29th,) the 
army, disjointed as was our corps, at least Hen- 
drick's and Smith's, encamped on the plain, on 
the bank of the Chaudiere. Morgan afterwards 
took his station near us. Here it first became 
generally known, that Enos had returned from 
the twelvemile carrying-place, with 500 men, 
a large stock of provisions, and the medicine 
chest. It damped our spirits much, but our 
commander conceived, it was better to proceed 
than return. We were about a hundred miles 
from the frontier of Canada, but treble that dis- 
tance from <hat of New-England. Our provi- 
sions were exhausted. We had no moat of any 
kind. The flour which remained, so far as I 
know, was divided fairly and equally, among 
the whole of the troops, the riflemen sliared flre 
pints of flour \wv man. During (he night \aul 
the ensuing morning, tlie flour was baked into 
five cakes per man, under the ashes, in the way 
of Indian bread. 

On the 30th of October, Ave set forward. The 
men were told by the officers «*that orders would 
*< not be required in the march, each one must 
•« put the best foot foremost.'' The first day's 



64 

march was closed by a cliarming sleep on fir- 
branches. The gentlemen of our siiess lay to- 
gether, covering themselves, with the blankets 
of each one. My memory does not serve, to 
say, that any stir was made by any one, during 
the night. Happening to be the first who awak- 
ed, in the morning, the blanket was suddenly 
thrown from my head, but what was my sur- 
prise to find, that we had lain under a cover of 
at least four inches of snow. We scarcely had 
risen and had our kettle on the fire, when our 
drummer, (we had no bugles,) John ShaefiV^r, 
came slipshod to our fire, complaining, that 
all his cakes had been stolen from him. A 
more wretched figure was scarcely ever beheld. 
He was purblind. This circumstance, though 
lie was my townsman, and acquainted with me 
from my earliest infancy, was yet unknown to 
me until this last march, ascending the *'Dead- 
river,'* commenced. My station in the line of 
march, Avliich was in the single file, (or Indian, 
as it was then called,) was next to the captain ; 
iha drummer followed, Here it was his defect 
lif sight was most eileetually shewn. Smith 
was lithsome and quick afoot, as we ail were, 
(except poor Shaefter.) In tJic course of this 
toilsome march, wilhout a path, many deep ra- 
vines presented, over these Jay many logs, fal- 
len perhaps many years before. Tlie captain 
took the log, preferring it to a descent of 20 or 
30 feet into'the gulph below, whitli at times was 
quite abrupt. Following me, Shaefier would 
frequently, drum and all, tumble headlong into 
the abyss. His misfortunes in this way, for he 
was a 'laughing stock, excited contempt in the 
soldiers, but in me compassion.=^ Often, he re- 
quired my aid. On this latter occasion, our 
*See Note V. 



65 

kettle, boiling a bleary, which was no othei* 
than flour and water, and that without salt, my 
solicitations prevailing, the mess gave him a tin 
cup full of it. He received from me my third 
eake. This man, blind, starving, and almost 
naked, bore his drum (which was unharmed by 
all its jostlings) safely to Quebec, when many 
other hale men died in the wilderness. 

This morning, the first of November, break- 
fasting on our bleary, we took up the line of 
march through a flat and boggy ground. About 
ten o'clock A. M. we arrived, by a narrow neck 
of land at a marsh which was appalling. It was 
three fourths of a mile over, and covered by a 
coat of ice, half an inch thick. Here Simpson 
concluded to halt a short time for the stragglers 
or maimed of HendricV'^^-- and Smith's compa- 
nies to come lip. There" were two women at- 
tached to those companies, who arrived before 
we commenced the march. One was the wife 
of Serjeant Grier, a large, virtuous and res- 
pectable woman. The other was the wife of a 
private of our company, a man who lagged up- 
on every occasion. These women being arrived, 
it was presumed that all our party were up. 
We were on the point of entering the marsh, 
when some one cried out <« Warner is not here.** 
Another said he had " sat down sick under a 
tree, a few miles back." His wife begging us 
to wait a short time, with tears of affection in 
her eyes, ran back to her husband. We tarried 
an hour. They came not. Entering the pond, 
(Simpson foremost,) and breaking the ice here 
and there with the huts of our guns and feet, 
as occasion required, we were soon waist deep 
in the mud and water. As is generally the case 
with youths, it came to my mind, that a bettcp 



66 

path nijgkt be found than that of the more ei^ 
(derly guide. Attempting this, in a trice the 
water cooling my armpits, made me gladly re- 
turn into the file. Now Mrs. Grier had got he- 
fore me. My mind was humbled, yet astonish- 
eu, at the exertions of this good woman. Her 
clvkJjjes more than waist high, she waded before 
jiw fo the firm ground. No one so long as sh^ 
was known to us, dared intimate a disrespectful 
idea of her. Her husband, who was an excel- 
lent soldier, was on duty in Hendricks' boat> 
which had proceeded to the discharge of the 
lake with lieutenant M«Cleland. Arriving at 
lirm ground, and waiting again for our compa- 
iiioiis, we tlien set off, and in a march of several 
miles, over a scrubby and flat plain, arrived at 
a river flowing from the east into the Chaudiere 
lake. This we passed in a batteaux, which the 
prudence of colonel Arnold had stationed here, 
for our accommodation ; otherwise we must 
have swam tlie stream, which was wide and 
deep. In a short time we came to another river 
flowing from the same quarter, stiil deeper and 
wider than tlie former. Here we found a bat- 
teaux, under tlie snperintendency of capt. Dear- 
borne, in wiiich we passed the river. We skirt- 
id the river to its mouth, then passed along the 
margin of tlie lake to the outlet of Chaudiere, 
where we encamped with a heterogeneous mass 
of the army. It was soon perceived, that the 
French term Chaudiere, was most aptly applied 
to the river below us. Indeed every part of it, 
>vhich came under our view, until we arrived 
at the ^« first house'' in Canada, might well be 
termed a caldron or boiler, which is the import 
of its French name. It is remarkable of this 
river, and which, to me, distinguishes it from 



67 

ail otkers I had seen, that for^ 60 or 70 miles^ 
it is a continued rapid, without any apparent 
gap or passage ; even for a canoe. Every boat 
we put into the river, was stove in one part or 
other of it. Captain Morgan lost all his boats> 
and the life of a much valued sohUer. With 
difiiculty he saved his own life and the treasure 
eonnnitted to his care. Arnold, aeconipanied 
by Steele, and John M. Taylor, and a few otinn's, 
in a boat, wf*re in the advance of the ariny. He 
may have descended in a^ioat^ it is most lik'/ly 
he did.* ^ i* 

On the morning of the 2d of November, we 
set off from the Chaudiere lake, and hungered, as 
to my own particular, almost to death. What 
with the sn plies to Shaeffer, and my own appe- 
tite, food of any kind, with me, had become a 
nonentity. My own sufferings, in the two suc- 
ceeding marches^ from particular causes, were 
more than ordinarily severe. My mockasins 
had, many days since, been worn to shreds and 
east aside : My shoes, though they had been well 
sewed and hitherto stuck together, now began 
to give way, and that in the very worst part, 
(the upright seam in the heel.) For one to save 
his life, must keep his station in the rank — The 
moment that was lost, as nature'and reason dic- 
tate, the following soldier assumed his place. 
Thus, once thrown out of the file, the unfor- 
tunate wretch must await the passage of many 
men, until a chasm, towards the rear, happen- 
ed to open for his admission. This explanation 
will answer some questions which you might 
naturally put. Why did you not sew it I Why 

* June 26th, 1809. John M. Taylor tells me, that 
they descended by land. 



68 

di<l you not tie the sboe to your foot? If there 
had been awl, and thread, and strings at com- 
mand, which there was not, for tTie causes 
ahove stated, one dared not have done either, 
as the probable consequences would ensue, 
*< Death by hunger in a dreary wilderness.'^ 
For man when thrown out of society is the most 
helpless of God's creatures. Hence you may 
form a conception of the intolerable labour of 
the march. Every step taken the heel of the 
foot slipped out of the..shoe : to recover the po- 
sition of the foot in the shoe, and at the same 
time to stride, was hard labour, and exhausted 
my strength to an unbearable degree. You 
must remember that this march was not per- 
formed on the level surface of the parade, but 
over precipitous hills, deep gullies, and even 
without the path of the vagrant savage to guide 
us. Thus we proceeded till towards mid-day, 
the pale and meagre looks of my companions^ 
tottering on their feeble limbs, corresponding 
with my own. My friend Simpson, who saw my 
enfeebled condition and the eause, prevailed 
with the men to rest themselves a few niinutes. 
Bark, the only succedaneumfor twine, or leath- 
er, in this miserable conntrv, was immediately 
procured and the shoe bound tightly to the foot. 
Then marching hastily, in the course of an hour 
or more, we came within view of a tremendous 
cataract in the river, from 12 to 20 feet high. 
The horror this sight gave us, fearing for the 
safety of our friends in t!ie boats, was aggra- 
vated, when turning the point of a steep cragg, 
we met those very friends, having lost all but 
their lives, sitting around a fire on the shore* 
Oh God ! whut were our sensations ! Poor 
M*Cleland, first lieutenant of Hendrick's, and 



69 

for >vliosc aceommodalion the boat >vas most 
parlicularly carried across the mountain; was 
1^'ing at the fire ; he beckoned to us — His voice 
^vas not audible, placing my ear close to his lips, 
the word he uttered scarcely articulate, Avas, 
*< Farewell." Simpson, who loved him, gave 
him half of the pittance of food which he still 
possessed ; all I could was — a tear. The short, 
but melancholy story, of tliis gentleman, so far, 
as it has come to my knowledge, may be de- 
tiijled in a: few words. He had resided on the 
Juniata at the time he was commissioned. My 
knowledge of him commenced in the camp near 
Boston. He was endowed with all those quali- 
ties which win the affections of men. Open, 
brave, sincere, and a lover of truth. On the 
«< Dead river," the variable weather brought on 
a cold which affected his lungs. The tenderness 
of his friends, conducted liim safely, though 
much reduced, to the foot of the mountain, at 
the head of the '< Dead river." Hence he was 
borne in a litter across the mountain by men. 
If you had seen the young, yet venerable capl. 
Hendricks, bearing his share of this loved 
and patriotic burthen, across the plain to our 
camp, it would have raised estecDi, if not affec- 
tion, towards him. From our camp, M<Cleland 
was transported, in the boat, to the place where 
we found him. The crew, conducting the boat, 
though worthy men and well acquainted with 
such kind of navigation, knew nothing of this 
river. They descended, unaware of the pitch 
before them, until they had got nearly into the 
suck of the falls. Here, luckily, a rock pre- 
sented, on which it was so contrived as to cause 
the boat to lodge. Now the crew, Avith great 
labor and danger, bore their unfortunate lieut. 



70 

to the shore, where we found him. We passed 
on, fearful for our own lives. Coming to a long 
sand^ beach of the Chaudiere, for we sometimes 
had such : some men of our company were ob- 
served to dart from the file, and with their nails, 
tear out of the sand, roots which they esteemed 
eatable, and ate them raw, even without wash- 
ing. Languid and woe-begone, as your father 
was, it could not but create a smile, to observe 
the whole line watching with "Argus eyes," the 
motions of a few men, who knew the indications 
in the sand of those roots. The knowing one 
sprung, half a dozen followed, he who grabbed 
it, eat the root instantly. Though hunger urg- 
ed, it was far from me to contend in that way 
with powerful men, such as those were. Strokes 
often ocourred. 

During this day's march, (about 10 or 11, A. 
M.) my slioe having given away again, we came 
to a lire, where were some of captain Thayer 
or Topham's men. Simpson was in front, trudg- 
ing after, slipshod and tired, I sat down on the 
end of a long log, against which the fire was 
built, absolutely fainting with hunger and fa- 
tigue, my gun standing between my knees. Seat- 
ing myself, that very act gave a east to the ket- 
tle, which was placed partly against the log, in 
such a way, as to spill two thirds of its con- 
tents. At the moment a large man sprung to 
his gun, and pointing it towards me, he threa- 
tened to shoot. It created no fear; his life was 
with much more certainty in my power. Death 
would have been a welcome visitor. Simpson 
soon made us friends. Coming to their fire, 
they gave me a cup of their broth. A table 
spoonful, w^as all that was tasted. It liad a 
greenish hue, and was said to be that of a bear. 



71 

This was instantly known to be untrue, from 
the taste and smell. It was that of a dog. He 
was a large black Newfoundland dog, belong- 
ing to Thayer's, and very fat. We left these 
merry fellows, for they were actually such, 
juaugre all their wants, and marching quick- 
lyj towards evening encamped ; We hada good 
fire, but no food. To me the world had lost 
its charms. Gladly would death have been 
received as an auspicious herald from the divi- 
nity. My privations in every way, were such 
as to produce a willingness to die. Without 
food, without clothing, to keep me warm, with- 
out money, and in a deep and devious wilderness, 
the idea occurred, and the means were inmy 
hands, of ending existence. The God of all good- 
ness inspired other thoughts. One principal cause 
of change (under the fostering hand of Provi- 
dence) in my sentiments, was the jovial hilarity 
of my friend Simpson. At night, warming our 
bodies at an immense fire, our compatriots join- 
ed promiseaojisly around — to animate the com- 
pany, he would sing <^ Plato;" his sonorous 
voice gave spirit to my heart, and the morality 
of the song, consolation to my mind. In truth 
the music, though not so correct Ss that of Han- 
del, added strength and vigour to our nerves. 
This evening it was, that some of our compan- 
ions, whose stomachs had not received food, for 
the last forty-eight hours, adopted the notion, 
that leather, though it had been manufactured, 
might be made palatable food, and would grati- 
fy the appetite. Observing their discourse, to 
me the experiment became a matter of curiosi- 
ty. They washed their moekasins of moose- 
skin, in the first place, in the river, scraping 
away the dirt and sand, with great care. These 



72 

^•ere brought to the kettle and boiled a consider- 
able time, under the vague, but consolatory hope^ 
that a mucilage would take place. The boiling 
over, the poor fellows chewed the leather, but 
it was leather still : not to be macerated. My 
teeth, though young and good, succeeded no bet- 
ter. Disconsolate and weary, we passed the 
night. 

November 3d. We arose early, hunger im- 
pelling, and marched rapidly. After noon, on 
a point on the bank of the river, some one pre- 
tended, he descried the "'first house," ten miles 
off. Not long after anothei" discerned a boat com- 
ing towards us, and turning a point of land — 
presently, all perceived cattle driving up the 
shore. These circumstances, gave occasion to 
a feeble huzza of joy, from those who saw these 
cheerful and enlivening sights. We were now 
treading a wide and stony beach of the river. 
Smith, our captain, who at this moment hap- 
pened to be in company, elated with the pros- 
pect of a supply of food, in the joy of his heart, 
perhaps thoughtlessly, said to me, "take this 
Henry." Il was gladly received. Opening the 
paper, which had been neatly folded, there ap- 
peared a hand's breadth and length of bacon-fat, 
of an inch thick ; thoughtlessly, it was eaten 
greedily, inattentive to all former rule, and 
thanks to God, did me no harm. Here it was 
that for the tirst time, Aaron Burr, a most 
amiable youth of twenty, came to my view. He 
then was a cadet. Jt will require a most cogent 
evidence, to <'onvince my mind, that he ever 
intended any ill to his country of late years, by 
his various speculations. Though differing in 
political opir^ion from him, no reason has as yet 
been laid before me, to induce a belief, that he 



•73 

was traitorous to his country. However, take 
this as the wayward ideas of a person totally 
excluded from a knowledge of the secrets of 
the cabinet; who was somewhat attentive to its 
operations, so far as newspaper information caa 
elucidate. 

We marched as hastily as our wearied and 
feeble limhs could admit, hoping soon to share 
in something like an abysinian feast. The cur- 
vatures of the river, had deceived us in the cal- 
culation of distance. It was many hours ere we 
came to the place of slaughter* We found a 
fire, but no provision, except a small quantity 
of oaten meal, resembling in grit, our chopped 
rye. Simpson warmed some of this in water* 
and ate with goui. To me it was nauseous: 
this may have been owing to the luncheon from 
Smith's hoard. The French men told us, that 
those who preceded, had devoured the very 
entrails of the cattie. One of the eastern men, 
as we came to the fire, was gorging the last bit 
of the colon, half rinsed — -half broiled. It may 
be said, he ate with pleasure, as he tore it a« 
a hungry dog would tear a haunch of meat. We 
soon encamped for the night, cheered by the 
hope of succor. 

November 4<th. About two o'clock, P. M. we 
arrived at a large stroani eoming from the east, 
which we ran through, though more than mid- 
deep. This was the most chilling bath we had 
hitherto received: the weather was raw and cold. 
It was tlie 17th, and the harshest of my birth- 
days. Within a few hundred yards of the 
river, stood the ♦• first house*' in Canada: we 
approached it in extacy, sure of beittg relievet^ 
from death, by the means of famine. Many of 
our compatriots were unaware of that death, 
G 



74 

which arises from suclden repletion. The active 
spirit of Arnold, with such able assistants as 
John M. Taylor and Steele, had laid in a great 
stock of provisions. The men were furious, vo- 
racious, and insatiable. Three starvations had 
taught me wisdom. My friends took my advice. 
But, notwithstanding the irrefragable arguments 
the officers used to insure moderation, the men 
were outrageous upon the subject, tliey had no 
comprehension of such reasoning. A Pennsylva- 
nian German of our company, a good and order- 
ly soldier, who, from my affection towards him, 
I watched like another doctor Pedro Positive; yet 
nil representation and reasoning on my part, iiad 
no influence. Boiled beef, hot bread, potatoes, 
"boiled and roasted, were gormandized without 
stint. He seemed to defy deaths for the mere en- 
joyment of present gratification, and died two days 
after. Many of the men sickened. If not much 
mistaken, we lost three of our company, by 
their imprudence on this occasion. The imme- 
diate extension of the stomach by food, after a 
lengthy fast, operates a more sudden extinction 
of life, than the total absence of aliment. At 
this place, we, for the first time, had the plea- 
sure of seeing the worthy and respectable Indian, 
Natanis, and his brother Sabatis, with some 
others of their tribe, (the Abcnaquis.) Lieu- 
tenant Steele told us, that when he first arrived, 
[Natanis came to him, . in an abrupt but friend- 
ly manner, and gave him a cordial shake by 
the hand, intimating a previous personal know- 
ledge of liim. When we came, he approached 
Cunningham, Boyd, and myself, and shook hands 
in the way of an old acquaintance. We now 
learned from him, that on the evening wht'ii we 
Urst encamped on the ^< Dead-river," (Septem- 



75 

ber 29tli) iu bar first ascension, he lay witliui 
view of our camp, and so continued daily and 
nightly to attend our voyage, until the path 
presented, which led directly into Canada. This 
he took; to the question, *<Why did you not 
speak to your friends ? He readily answered, and 
truly, " You would have killed me." This was 
most likely, as our prejudices againt him had 
been most strongly excited, and we had no limit 
in our orders, as to this devoted person. He, 
his brother Sabatis, and seventeen other Indians, 
the nephews and friends of Natanis, marched 
with us to Quebec. In the attack of that place, 
on the moi ning of the first of January following, 
Natanis, received a musquet ball through his 
wrist. He adopted a chirurgery, which seemed 
extraordinary, at the time, and quite new, but 
which now seems to me, to be that of nature 
itself. He drew a pledget of linnen quite through 
the wound, the ends of which, hung down on 
each side of the arm. He was taken prisoner, 
but general Carleton discliarged him immediat- 
ly with strong tokens of commiseration. This 
is^ the first instance in tlie course of our revolu- 
tionary war, of the employment of Indians in 
actual warfare against our enemies. To be sure 
it was the act of a junior commander, unwar- 
ranted, so far as lias come to my knowledgCi, 
by the orders of his superiors; yet it seemed to 
authoi-ize, in a small degree, upon the part of 
our opj)onents, tb.at horrible system of aggres- 
sion, which in a sbort tinie ensued, and aston- 
ished and disgusted thv c vilized world. 

Nov. 5th. Hunger, v Inch neither knows go- 
Ycrnance or restraint, being now gratified, we 
turned our attention towards our friends, who 
^ere still in the wilderness. Smith and Simpson, 



(i'ov recollection does not serve to sa^- how my 
friends Hendricks and Nichols were employed, 
butit was certiiinly in doing good,) always active, 
procured two young Indians, nephews of Nata- 
nis, " Sweet fellows," (as Siinpson called them,) 
to proceed on the following mornip.g to the great 
fall, for the person of the invab^able M*Cie- 
land. Before we started, it gave me pleasure to 
see these youths, excited by the reward obtain- 
ed, pushing their birch- bark canoe against the 
strict current of the rivei*. It seemed like an 
egg-shell to bound over the surface of the waves 
of every opposing ripple. To end at once this 
dolorous part of our story ; the young men, in 
despite of every impediment from the waters, 
and the solicitations of the starved wanderers 
in the rear, for food, hurried on to the fall, and 
on the evening of the third day, brought our 
dying friend to the <« first house." The follow- 
ing day he died, and his corpse received a due 
respect from the inhabitants of the vicinage. 
We were informed of this a month after. This 
real Catholicism towards the remains of one we 
loved, made a deep and wide breach upon 
my early prejudices, which since that period has 
eaused no regret ; but has induced a more ex- 
tended and paternal view of mankind, unbound- 
ed by sect or opinion. 

The morning of the 6th Nov. we marched in 
straggling parties, through a flat and rich coun- 
try, sprinkled, it might be said, decorated, by 
many low houses, all white washed, which ap- 
peared to be the warm abodes of a contented 
people. Every now and then, a chapel came in 
sight ; but more frequently the rude, but pious 
imitations of the sufferings of our Saviour, and 
the image of the virgin. These things created 



77 

surprize, at least, in my mind, fop where 1 
thought there could be little other than barbar- 
ity, we found civilized men, in a comfortable 
state, enjoying all the benefits arising from the 
institutions of civil society. The river, along 
which the road ran, in this ilays march, became 
in the most part onr guide. It now flowed in a 
deep and almost sightless current ; where my 
opportunities gave me a view. Our abstemious- 
ness was still adhered to. About noon of the 
next day, we arrived at the quarters of Arnold, 
a station he had taken for the purpose of halt- 
ing and embodying the whole of our emaciated 
and straggling troops. We were now perhaps 
thirty miles from point Levi ; which is on the 
St. Lawreece, and nearly opposite to Quebec. 
JNow our mess had " friends at court." Arnold, 
since we left the « twelve-mile-earrying place/' 
the last time, had, deservedly, taken Steele as a 
guide, into his mess ; and he had become a kind 
of aid-de-camp— he was, to say no more, a con- 
fidential man. John M. Taylor, keen and bold 
as an Irish grey-hound, was of our company, 
being a ready penman and excellent accountant : 
He was at once exalted, by the shrewd and dis- 
cerning eye of Arnold, to the offices of purveyor 
and commissary. We had no distinctions of of- 
fice, scarcely any of rank, in those days. Our 
squad, in consequence, came boldly uj) to head^ 
quarters, though we came not now into their pre- 
sence. Steele, who was in waiting, pointed to 
the slaughter-house, a hundred ;yards distant. 
Thither we went, determined to indulge. Here 
we found our friend Taylor, worried almost to 
death, in dealing out the sustenance of life to 
others. Without hyperbole or circumlocution, 
he gave us asmanypon uls of beef-stakes as we 
G 2 



78 

chose to carry. Proceeding to tlw next house, 
a mile below, some one of the party bt'caine 
cook. Good bread and potatoes, with the ac- 
companiment of beef stake, produced a savory 
meal. Believing myself out of danger from 
any extraordinary indulgence of appeTite, (he 
due quantity was exceeded, and yet, believe me, 
it was not more than an anchorite might reli- 
giously take. We soon becanjc sensible of this 
act of imprudence. The march of the after- 
noon was a dull and heavy one. A fever attack- 
ed me. I became, according to my feelings, the 
most miserable of liuman beings. Determined 
not to lag behind, my eyes, at times, could 
scarcely discern the way, nor my legs do their 
office. We did not march far this afternoon. 
In this high latitude, a winter's day is very 
short and fleeting. The evening brought me 
no comfort, though we slept warmly in a farm 
house. 

November 7th. — The army now formed into 
more regular and compact order, in the morn- 
ing pretty early, we proceeded. About noon 
my disorder had increased so intolerably, that I 
could not put a foot forward. Seating myself 
upon a log at the way side, the troops passed on. 
In the rear came Arnold on horseback. He 
knew my name and character, and, good natu- 
redly, inquired after my health. Being inform- 
ed, he dismounted, ran down to the river side, 
and hailed the owner of the house, which stood 
opposite across the water. The good Canadian^ 
in his canoe, quickly arrived. Depositing my gun 
and accoutrements in the hands of one of our 
men, who attended upon me, and had been dis- 
armed by losing his ritle in some one of the 
^vreckings above, and x\rnold putting two silver 



79 

dollars into my hands, the Frenchman eapried 
Bfie to his house. Going to bed with a high fevei' 
upon me, 1 Ia,v all this and the following day 
without tasting food. That had been the cause 
of the disease, its absence became the cure. 

The morning of the third day, (lOth Nov,)^ 
brought me healtii. The mistress of the hofise, 
who had been very attentive and kind, asked 
me to breakfast. This humble, bui generous 
meal, consisted of a bowl of milk, for the guest, 
with excellent bread. The fare of the family 
was this same bread, garlic, and salt — I had ob- 
served, tliat this was the usual morning's diet, 
for I lay in the stove-room, where the family 
ate and slept. This wortliy family was com|ios- 
ed of seven persons ; the parents in the prime 
of life, and five charming ruddy children, all 
neatly and warmly clothed in woolen, apparent- 
ly of their own manufactory. You might sup- 
pose, from the manner of their living, that tliese 
persons were poor. No such thing. They wei*e 
in good circumstances. Their house, barn, sta- 
bling, &c. were warm and comfortable, and 
their diet such as is universal among the French 
peasantry of Canada. Proffering my two dol- 
lars to this honest man, he rejected them with 
something like disdain in his countenance, inti- 
mating to me that he had merely obeyed the dic- 
tates of religion and humanity. Tears filled 
my eyes when I took my leave of these amiable 
people. But they had not even yet done enough 
for me. The father insisted on attending me 
to the ferry some miles ofi^, where the river 
takes a turn almost due north, to meet the St, 
liawrence. Here my worthy host procured me 
a passage sent t free, observing to me my money 
might be required before the army could be 



m 

overtaken. Landing on the north bank of the 
river, the way could not be mistaken, the track 
of the army had strongly marked the route. 
To me it was a most gloomy and solitary march. 
Not a soul was to be seen in the course of ten 
miles. Being without arms, and in an unknown 
country, my inconsequence, and futileness lay 
heavy on my spirits. Here and there was a 
farm-house, but the inhabitants were either 
closely housed or absent from their homes. Af- 
ternoon, arj'iving at the quarters of our com- 
pany, my gun and accoutrements were reclaim- 
ed with ardour, and a solemn resolution never 
to part with them again, unless it happened by 
the compulsion of the foe. The house, wliich 
the company possessed, lay some hundreds of 
paces from head-quarters, but within view. 
Morgan's quarters were nearer. Where Hen- 
dricks made his lodgment is not now recollected, 
but it was at no great distance. 

On the following day, (Nov. 11th,) our guns 
in order, a scene opened, which then and now 
seems to me to have exhibited us in a disrepu- 
table point of view : it evinced, at least, the 
necessity of a staid and sober conduct of the of- 
ficer, as well as a strict subordination and obe- 
dience of the private. A hurried and boister- 
ous report, came from head-quartej s, that the 
British were landing to our left at a mill, about 
a mile off. Each one grasped his arms. Mor- 
gan and the Indians, who lay nearest to the 
commander's quarters, were foremost. The 
running was severe. The lagging Indians, and 
a variety of the tliree companies were inter- 
mingled. Coming to the brow of the precipice, 
but still unseen, we perceived a bout landing, 
'Which came from a frigate laying in the stream? 



81 

a mile below. The boat came ashore. A youth 
sprung from it : The tide ebbing, the boatswain 
thought it better to obtain a deeper landing- 
plate, nearer the mill, and drew off. Morgaij, 
apprehensive of a discovery of our presence, 
fired at the boat's crew. A volley ensued with- 
out hartn, probably hecausc of the great space 
between us. They pulled off shore, until be- 
yond the range of our guns, leaving the mid- 
shipman to our mercy. The hapless youth, eon- 
founded, unknowing what to do, plunged into 
the river, hoping to regain his boat. His friends 
flying from him, — he waded, he swam, yet could 
not reach the boat. At the distance, perhaps, of 
one hundred and fifty yards, nothing but his 
liead above water, a shooting-match took place, 
and believe me, the balls of Morgan, Simpson, 
Humphreys, and others, played around, and 
within a few inches of his head. Even after a 
lapse of thirty years, it gives me pain to recol- 
lect, that my gun was discharged at him. Such, 
however, was the savage ferocity engendered, 
in those ungracious times, by a devolution of 
the ministry of the mother-country, from the 
true line of conduct towards her colonies. 

M<Kensie, (the name of the young man,) see- 
ing that his boat's crew had deserted him, show- 
ed a desire to surrender, by approaching the 
shore. The ilring ceased. But a still more 
disgusting occurrence than the preceding, fol- 
lowed. The lud, coming towards the shore, 
evidently intending to submit, Sabatis, the In- 
dian, the brother of Natanis, sprung forward, 
scalping knife in hand, seemingly intending to 
end the strife at a single blow. The humanity 
or Morgan and Humphreys, towards a succum- 
bent foe, was excited. One op the other of 



8!2 

tliem, it is not now recollected which, in particu- 
lar, by his agility and amazing powers of body, 
wasenabled to precede the Indian by several yards. 
This contest of athleticism was observed from 
the shore, where we were, with great interest. 
Morgan brought the boy (for he was really 
such,) to land, and afterwards esteemed liim, 
for he merited the good will of a hero : Wet 
and hungry, we returned to quarters. Running 
along the shore with our prey, the Hunter sloop 
of war, having warped up for the purpose, pelted 
us all the Avay with ball and grape shot. It was 
no easy matter to ascend the bank, which was 
steep and craggy. Our prisoner was prudently 
loquacious, and very genteel. He had left the 
sloop, of which he was a midshipman, upon 
command, to procure spars and oars, which lay 
in the mill. He had ordered off the boat to pro- 
cure a better landing, when our imprudent fire 
drove his people from him. He was the brother 
of captain M<Kensie of the Pearl frigate. In 
1777, the young M'Kensie was again taken. I 
saw him at Lancaster, (Pennsylvania,) activcr 
lively, and facetious as ever. During our stay 
at point Levi, Colonel Arnold was busily engag- 
ed. Being now discovered, it became us to 
pass the St. Lawrence as soon as possible. The 
main difficulty consisted in the procurement of 
boats or canoes. Those kinds of craft on this 
parr of the river, had previously to our arrival, 
|3een secured by the vigilance of government, 
which it is likely had some intmiation of an in- 
road in the direction we came. 7'wenty-iive 
cauoes, chiefly of birch bark, were with diffi- 
culty procured. The command of these was 
conferred upon lieutenant Steele, who selected 
the steersmen, of whom it came to me to be 



83 

one. The passage, if practicable, must be made 
in the night, and that in the most silant man- 
ner, at a time the tide served. 

Between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clpck, on 
the night of the 13th of November, the troops 
paraded on the beach, near the mill before 
mentioned, without noise or bustle. One cargo 
was despatched — then a second: upon making 
the traverse a third time, an accident happened 
to my friend Steele, which you can scarcely cre- 
dit. Being at a considerable distance behind with 
his canoe, I could not, at its occurring, observe 
the transaction, nor share in the danger, though 
my life would have been willingly risked for his, 
and yet the relation of this fact, is most unques- 
tionably true. These frequent asseverations, 
may appear somewhat awkward, and to blur 
the detail of our story; but our sufferings were 
so extraordinary in their kinds, and so aggravat- 
ed by the nature of the severe services we un- 
derwent, that now-a-days it will require a faith 
almost approaching to credulity, to convince 
the mind of their truth. Steele steered a birch- 
bark canoe, the weight, and it is likely the 
awkwardness of the men, when about the mid- 
die of the river, (which at this place is fully 
two miles wide,) burst the eanoe. The men 
who were in it, swam to, or were taken up, by 
the canoes nearest to them. It was otherwise 
with Steele* He was the last to get to a canoe 
under the management of the worthy Wheeler: 
but it was full of men. There could be no ad- 
mittance. The steersman advised, and Steele 
was compelled from necessity, to throw his arms 
over the stern — ^Wheeler, seating himself upon 
them, so as to hold him securely, for it was a 
bleak and numbing night. Thus, in this man- 



84 

ner was this worthy and adventurous officer, 
jHoated to tlie short? at Wolf's cove. Here there 
was an uninhabited houj«e. Afire had been light- 
ed in it, by some of our people, who first land- 
ed. It became a pole-star to u« in the rear, we 
steered for it. Landing about half an hour af- 
ter Steele, we found him at the fire, seemingly 
chilled to the heart ; but he was a man not to 
be dis-spirited by slight matters. Friction soon 
restored him to his usual animation. The n^oon, 
now about three o'clock, shone brightly, apd the 
tide run out rapidly, so that the passing of the 
rest of the troops, about one hundred and fifty 
in number, this night, was given up. This cir> 
cum stance, of the absence of so large a part of 
our lorce, was known but to few. They joined 
us on the following night. It had been the in- 
tention of our chief, to storm the town this 
night j but the deficiency of our scaling ladders, 
many of which were left beyond the river, now 
repressed that design. 

November 14th. The troops easily ascended 
the hill, by a good road cut in it slantingly. 
This was not the case in 1759, when the im- 
mortal Wolf mounted here, it was then a steep 
declivity, enfiladed by a host of savages, but was 
surmounted by the eager and gallant spirit of 
our nation. 

November 15th. Arriving on the brow of the 
precipice, we found out selves on the plains of 
AJH'aham, so deservedly faiuou sin story. The 
morning was cold, and we were thinly clad. 
While an adventurous party despatched by Ar- 
nold, under the command of o^ne of Morgan's 
lieutenants, were examining the walls of the" 
c^ity, we were pacing the Plains to and fro, in 
sileace, to keep ourselves warm. The winter 



85 

had set in—a cold northwester blew, >nth uii- 
common keenness. By.tlie time the reconoit- 
ring party returned, daylight was not very dis- 
tant. ■ The party found every thing towards 
the city, in a state of perfect quietness. This 
report was delivered, in my presence, to Morgan^ 
however, the country may have been represent- 
ed since. IVot even the cry of " All's well,'* 
was uttered, was a part of their report, jei we 
lieard that cry from the walls, even where we 
were; but this in a direct line, was nearer to 
us than the voices opposite to the party. Tliis 
was the happy moment, but with our small and 
disjointed force, what could be done ? There 
was scarcely more than three hundred and fifty 
me!i, willing and determined to be sUre, but 
too few to assail a fortress such as Quebec is. 
I^ that had been known this night, which was 
evidenced in a few days by the fugitives from the 
eity, Arnold would most assuredly have hazard- 
ed an attack. St. John's gate, which opens on 
Abraham's plains, and is a most important sta- 
tion, was unbarred, nay, unclosed : nothing but 
a single cannon under the care of a drowsy 
watcii, was there as a defence; we were not 
a mile distant, and might have entered unknown, 
and even unseen. These are uncertain opinions, 
resting on the vague reports of the moment, 
which might have been true, or untrue* My 
memory is, however, fresh in the recollection 
of the heart-burnings this failure caused amoiig 
us. Pjrovidenee, for wise purposes, would 
have it otherwise. Near daylight, requiring 
rest and refreshment, the troops moved a mile, 
to a farm-house of Lieutenant Governor CaJd- 
Well's. This was a great pile of wooden build- 
ings, with numerous outhouses, which testified 



84 

the agncuJtural spirit and taste of the owner. 
He, good soul, was then snug in Quehec. Those 
who came first, fared well, and as luck would 
have it, we were of the number: all within and 
without the house, became a prey. Adversity 
liad destroyed in our minds, every decorous or 
delicate sensation. Guards were stationed next 
the city. Wrapped in my blanket, fearless of 
events, casting my person on the floor of an ele- 
gant parlour, I slept sweetly and soundly, till 
two in the afternoon, and then was roused sole- 
ly by a cry, that the enemy was advancing. 
Wc flew to arms, and rather in a hurried man- 
ner, run towards the city, which was nearly 
two miles from us. We saw no enemy. It turned 
out that a Mr. Ogden, a cadet from Jersey, a 
large and handsome young man, in favor with 
Arnold, had been authorized to place the sentin- 
*ils that day. He did place them, most stupidly. 
George Merchant, of Morgan's, a man who would 
at any time, give him fairplay, have sold his 
life dearly, he stationed in a thicket, within 
view of the enemy ; at the time of placing him, 
when at his post, he was out of sight of the gar- 
rison ; but the mischief was, (though he could 
not be seen,) he could see no one approach; he 
was taken absolutely unaware of danger. A 
sergeant of the " seventh," who, from the man- 
ner of the thing, must have been clever, accom- 
panied by a few privates, slily creeping through 
the streets of the suburbs of St. John, and then 
Tinder the cover of the bushes, sprung upon the 
devoted Merchant, even before he had time to 
cock his rifle. Merchant wasja tall and hand- 
some Virginian. In a few days, he, hunting- 
shirt ah'd all, were sent to England, probably 
as a finished specimen of the riflemen of the co- 



87 

lollies. The government there very liberally, 
sent him home in the following year. 

The capture of Merchant griwed us, ami 
brought us within a tew hundred yards of the ci* 
iy, Arnold had the boldness, you luiglit say the 
audacity, or still more correctly, the folly, to 
draw us up in a line, in front and opposite to 
the wall of the city. The parapet was lined by 
luindreds of gaping citizens and soldiers, whom 
our guns could not harm, because of the disr 
tance. Ttiey gave us a huzza! We returned it, 
iim\ remained a considerable time huzzaing, and 
spending our powder against the walls, for we 
Itarmed no one. Some of our men to the right, 
under the cover of something like ancient ditch- 
es and hillocks, crept forward within two hun- 
dred yards of the works, but their filing was 
disregarded by the enemy as farcical. Febiger, 
who was a real and well instructed soldier, and 
engineer, did advance singly within a hundred 
paces, and pored with the eye of an adept. Dur- 
ing all this, as my station in the line happened 
to be on a mound, a few feet higher than the 
i'ommon level of the plain, it was perceptible 
Uirough the embrasures that there was a vast 
hustle within. In some minutes a tliirty-six 
])or5uder was let loose upon us; but so ill was tlie 
gun pointed, that the ball fell short, or passed 
ijigh over our heads. Anotltcr, and anotlier suc- 
ceededi— to these salutes, we gave them all we 
could, another and another huzza. It must be 
confessed, that this ridiculous affair, gave lue a 
contemptible opinion of Arnold. This notion 
was by no means singular. Morgan, Febiger 
and other oScers, who had seen service, did 
not hesitate to speak of it in that pointr of view. 
However, Arnold had a vain desire to gratify, 



88 

of whidi we were tlien ignorant. He was well 
known at Quebec. Formerl,y, he had traded 
from this port to the We^t Indies, most par- 
ticularly in the article of horses. Hence, he 
was despised hy the principal people. The epi- 
thet ♦*Horsejockey," was freely and univers- 
ally bestowed upon him, by the British, Hav- 
ing now obtained power, he became anxious 
to display it in the faces of those, who had for- 
merly despised and contemned him. TJie vener- 
able Carlelon, an Irishman of a most amiable 
and mild character, colonel Maclean, a Scotch- 
3nan, old in warfare, would not, in any shape, 
communicate with him. If Montgomery had 
originally been our commander, matters might 
liave been more civilly conducted. This parti- 
cularity in relating a most trivial and disgust- 
ing occurrence, arises from a desire, to set be- 
fore you, a coutionary rule, which it will be 
]>rudent for you to observe in your historical 
reading. *<Do not believe an autl^or, unless 
" the story he relates be probable, accompanied 
»^ by such circumstances as might reasonably 
•« attend the transaction, unless he is corrobo- 
*' rated by others, wlio speak on that subject." 
Many of our wisest men, within the colonies, 
wrote and spoke of this bravading, as a mat- 
ter of moment, and with much applause. Even 
feome of our iiistorians, (Gordon) huve given 
it celebrity. But a more silly and boast- 
ful British historian, (Amwell) says there was 
^ dreadful cannonade, by which many of the 
rebels were destroyed. The truth is, that this 
day not a drop of blood was shed, but that of 
Governor Caldwell's horned cattle, hogs and 
poultry, which run plentifully. After this vic- 
tory in huzzaing, which was boys' play, and 



89 

suited me to a hair, We returned to quarters to 
partake of the good things of this world. 

The next day, (Nov. loth,) a scene of a dif- 
ferent kind opened, which let us into the true 
chararter of Arnold, In the wilderness, the 
men had been stinted to a pint of flour by the 
day. This scanty allowance of flour had been 
continued since we had come into this plentiful 
country. Morgan, Hendricks and Smith, wait- 
ed upon the commander in chief, to represent 
the grievance and obtain redress. Altercation 
and warm language took place. Smith, with 
his usual loquacity, told us, that Morgan seem- 
ed, at one time, upon the point of striking Ar- 
nold. We fared the better for this interview. 

On the following day, (Nov. 16th,) the rifle- 
companies removed further from the city. 
About half a mile from Caldwell's house, oup 
company obtained excellent quarters, in the 
house of a French gentleman, who seemed 
wealthy. He was pleasing in his manners, but 
the riideijpss our ungovernable men exhibited, 
created in him an apparent disgust towards us. 
Here we remained near a week. During that 
time, we had constant and severe duty to per- 
form. There was a large building on the low 
grounds, near the river St. Charles, which was 
occupied by a most respectable society of ladies 
as a nunnery. In the front of this house, at 
the distance of fifty yards, there was a spacious 
log building, which seemed to be a school house, 
occupied by the priesthood attendant on the nun- 
nery. Tins house we took possession of, as a 
guard- house, under an idea, as it stood directly 
between the town andtlie nunnery, which contain- 
ed some precious deposits, that they had not had 
Hi3 



90 

lim« to remove, that the enemy >vould not fire 
in this direction. The conjecture was just. 

Nov. 16th. — In the afternoon a distressing oc- 
currence took place here, notwithstanding our 
vicinity to this holy place. Towards tlie even- 
ing the guard was relieved. Lieut. SimpKoo 
commanded it. This guard was composed of 
two-and-twenty line fellows, of our company. 
"Wiien the relief-guard came, a Frenchman, of 
a most villainous appearance, both as to person 
and visage, came to our lieutenant, with a writ- 
ten order from collonel Arnold, commanding 
him to accompany the bearer, who would be 
our guide across the river St. Charles, to obtain 
some Ccittle feeding beyond it, on the account of 
government. The order, in the first instance, 
because of its ps-eposterousness, was doubted, 
but, upon a little rejection, obeyed. Knowing 
the danger, our worthy lieutenant also knew, 
the best and only means of executing the enter- 
prize. The call *< come on lads,'' was uttered. 
We ran witli speed from the guard-house some 
hundreds of yards, over the plain to the mouth 
of t!ie St. Charles, where the ferry is. Near 
the ferry there was a large wind- mill, and near 
it stood a small house resembling a Cooper's 
shop. Two carts of a large size, were passing 
the ferry heavily laden with the houshold- stuff, 
and women and children of the townsmen %ing 
from the suburbs of St. Roque, contiguous to 
palace-gate, to avoid the terrible and i'atal ef- 
fects of war. The carts were already in a large 
jCOW, or flat-bottomed boat, and the ferrymen, 
seeing us coming, were tugging hard at the fer- 
A^y-rope, to s;(it off the boat, which was aground, 
before we should arrive. It was no small mat- 
ter, in exertion, to outdo people of our agility. 



91 

Simpson, with his usual good humour, urged 
the race, from a hope that the garnson would 
not fire upon us, >vlien in the hunt with their 
flying townsmen. The weight of our bodies 
and arms put the boat aground in good earnest. 
Simpson vociferously urging the men to free the 
boat, directing them to place their guns in my 
arms, standing on the bow. lie ordered lue to 
watch the Hashes of the cannon* of the city 
near palace gate. Jumping into the water mid- 
deep, all but sergeant Dixon and nnself, they 
were pushing, pulling, and wi(h handspikes at- 
tempting to iloat the scow. One of tlje carts 
stood between Dixon and myself — he was tug- 
ging at the ferry rope. Presently *< a shot," 
was called, it went wide of the boat, its mark. 
The exertions of the party were redoubled^ 
Keeping an eye upon the town, the sun about 
setting, in a clear sky, the view was beautiful 
indeed, but somewhat terriiic. Battlements 
like these had been unknown to me. Our boat 
lay like a rock in the water, and was a target 
at point blank shot, about three-fourths of a 
mile from palace gate, which issues into St. 
Roqne. 1 would have adored all the saints in 
the Kalendar, if honor and their worships 
would have permitted the transportation of my 
person a few perches from the spot where it then 
stood, by tiie austere command of duty. It was 
plainly observable tliat many persons were en- 
gaged in preparing the guns for another dis^ 

* This was a ridiculous practice, universally adopted 
in the camp near Boston, and was now pursued at this 
place. It is merely designative of the raw soldier. 
Such indications of fear should now-a-days be severely 
reprimanded. 



92 

charge. Our l^rave men were straining every 
nerve to obtain success. *♦ A shot," was all 
that could he said, when athiriy-six pound ball, 
touching tbe lower edge of the nob of the cart- 
wheel, descending a little, took tlie leg of my 
patriotic friend below the knee, and carried 
away the bones of that part entirely. *< Oh ! 
Simpson," he cried, << I am gone." Simpson, 
whose heart was tender and kind, leaped into 
the boat : calling to the men, the person of 
Dixon was borne to the windmill. Now a roar 
of triumph was heard from the city, accompa- 
nied by some tolerably well directed shots. The 
unfortunate was home at a slow and solemn pace^ 
to the guard-house, the enemy, every now and 
then, sending us his majesty's compliments, in 
the shape of a 24. or 36 pound ball. When tlie 
procession came into a line with the town, the 
guard-house and nunnery, the firing ceased. 
At the time we were most busily engaged with 
Dixon, at the windmill, the vile Frenchman, 
aghast and horror stricken, fled from us to the 
city. If his desertion had been noticed in time, 
his fate had been sealed, but the rascal was un- 
observed till he had run several hundred yards 
along the beach of the bay of St, Charles. He 
turned out to be a spy, purposely sent by gov- 
ernment to decoy and entrap us, and he succeed- 
ed hut too easily with the vigilant Arnold. 
Dixon was now carried on a litter to the house 
of an English gentleman, about a mile off. An 
amputation took place — a tetanus follo>Yed, 
which, about 9 o'clock of the ensuing day, end- 
ed in the dissolution of this honorable citizen 
and soldier, 'i'here are many reasons for de- 
tailing this aifiiir so minutely to you. Among 
these are, to impress upon your minds an idea 



I 



93 

of the manners and spirit of those times : our 
mf'ans and rude methods of warfare : but more 
particuhirly for the purpose of introducing to 
your observation an anecdote of Dixon, Avhich 
is eliaracteristic of the ideas and feelings then 
entertained by the generality of his countrymen. 
Before >ve left our native homes, tea had, as it 
\^ ere, become an abomination even to the ladies. 
'Ptre taxation of it by the parliament of En- 
gland, with design to draw from us a trilling 
revenue, was made the pretence with the great 
body of the people, for our opposition to gov- 
ernment. The true ground, however, with the 
politically wise, was, that that law annihilated 
our rights as Englishmen. It is an axiom of 
tlie common law of our glorious ancestors, that 
taxation and representation must go hand in 
hand. This rule was now violated. Hence it 
was, that no one male or female, knowing their 
rights, if possessed of the least spark of pat- 
riotism, >yould deign to taste of that delightful 
beverage. The lady of the house, though not 
one who approved of our principles of action, 
-was very attentive to our wounded companion : 
she presented him a bowl of tea ; " No madam," 
said he, ** it is the ruin of my country." 

Uttering this noble sentiment, (Nov. 17th,) 
this invaluable citizen died, sincerely lamented 
by every one who had the opportunity of know- 
ing his virtues. Dixon was a gentleman of good 
property and education, though no more tban 
the first sergeant of our company. His estate 
lay in W. Hanover township, in the county of 
Lancaster, (now in Dauphin.) He was an agri- 
culturalist, which, in the vagueness and uncer- 
tainly of our language, is called " a farmer." 
In fact he was a freeholder, the possessor of an 



94 

excellent tract of land, accompanied by all 
those agreeables which render the cultivator of 
the earth, in Pennsylvania, the most independent, 
and, v.ith prudent economy, the most happy of 
human beings. The following morning, Simp- 
so2i was the tirst to give me an account of Dixon's 
death, ^^viiich affected us much, his corpse re- 
ceived the usual military honors. Duty com- 
pelled my absence elsewhere. The blood of 
Dixon was the first oblation made upon the altar 
of Liberty at Quebec, and Merchant was the 
first prisoner. The latter was a brave and de- 
termined soldier, fitted for subordinate station ; 
the former was intuitively a captain. The city 
and vicinity occupied the attention of the com- 
mander nearly a week. 

Nov. 18th. — Not being fully in the secret, it 
does not become me to recount the causes of our 
retreat, to Point Aux Tremble. We did howe- 
ver make this retrograde movement, rather in a 
slovenly style, accompanied, probably, by the 
maledictions of the clergy and nobility, but at- 
tended by the regrets of a host of well-wishers 
among the peasantry. Point Aux Tremble is 
at the distance of twenty, or more, miles from 
Quebec. The route thither, though in a severe 
winter, was interesting. The woods were leaf- 
less, except as to those trees of the lir-kind ; 
but numei'ous neat and handsomely situated 
farm-houses, and many beautiful landscapes 
were presented, and enlivened our march along 
this majestic stream. At Detroit, which is 
supposed to be little short of nine hundred miles 
from Quebec : — even there, it is no contempti- 
ble river, but here the inimense volume of its 
Avaters, strikes the mind of the stranger with 
astonishment and rapture* Our Susquehauua, 



95 

wbicli^ from its grandeur, attracts the Euro- 
pean eye, stands in a low grade when compared 
with the St. Lawrence. Ascending the river at 
a distance of ten or iifteen miles, we observed 
the rapid passage, down stream, of a boat, and 
soon afterwards of a ship, one or other of Avhieh 
contained the person of Sir Guy Carleton. 
That it was the governor of the province, flying 
from Montgomery, who had by this time cap- 
tured Montreal, we were informed by a special 
kind of messenger, which was no other than 
the report of the cannon, by way of feu-de-joye, 
upon his arrival at the capital. Water, in re- 
gard to the communication of sound, is nearly 
as good a conductor as metals are, for the trans- 
mission of the electric fluid. Though near to 
the place of our destination, we could mark 
with precision the report of every gun. Point 
Aux Tremble, at this time, had assumed the 
appearance of a straggling village. There was 
a spacious chapel, where the ceremonies of the 
Roman- Catholic religion were performed, with 
a pomp not seen in our churches, but by a fer- 
vency and zeal apparently very pious, Avhieh be- 
came a severe and additional stroke at early 
prejudices. Quarters were obtained in the vil- 
lage and farm houses, dispersed over a space of 
some miles, up and down the river, We enjoy- 
ed as much comfort as tight houses, warm fires, 
and our scantiness of clothing would admit. 
Provisions wci'c in plenty, and particularly beef, 
which, though small in bulk, was of an excel- 
lent flavour. Being in a few days, as it were, 
domesticated in a respectable farmer's liouse, 
we now had leisure to observe the economy of 
the family. Every crevice tlirough which cold 
air could penetrate, was carefully pasted with 



96 

strips of paper of every colour. To permit the 
cold air to intrude is not the onlj evil which re- 
sults ; but the smallest interstice with the air, 
also admits an almost impalpable snow, which 
is very inconvenient, particularly at night, when 
the winds blow most sharply. A stove of iron 
stood a small space from the wall of the kitchen 
chimney, but in such a way that it might he en- 
compassed by the family or the guests. This 
stove was kept continually hot, both by day and 
by night. Over the stove their is a rack so con- 
structed as to serve for the drying of wet clothes, 
iiiockasins, &c. &c. When these people slaugh- 
ter their beasts for winter use, they cut up the 
jueat into small pieces, such as a half pound, 
two pounds &c. according to the number of the 
family. In the evening before bedtime, the fe- 
males of the house, prepare the dinner of the 
following day. It may be particularly described, 
as it was done in our view for a number of days 
together, and during the time was never varied. 
This was the manner : A piece of pork or beef, 
or a portion of each kind, together with a suffi- 
ciency of cabbage, potatoes and turnips, season- 
ed with salt, and an adequate quantity of water, 
were put into a neat tin kettle with a close lid. 
The kettle, thus replenished, was placed on the 
stove in the room where we all slept, and th« re 
it simmered till the time of rising, when U was 
taken to a small fire in the kitchen, where a 
stewing continued till near noon, when they di- 
ned. The contents were teemed into a large 
bason. Each person had a plate — no knife was 
used, except one to cut the bread, but a five or 
six pronged fork answered the purposes of a 
spoon. The meat required no cutting, as it was 
reduced to a musilage, or at least to shreds. 



97 

This, you may say, is trifling inforinatjon, and 
tmworthy of your notice ; according to my mind, 
it is important to all of us, to know the hahits, 
manners, and means of existence of that class 
of society, which, in all nations, composes the. 
bulk and strength of the body politic. Our 
dinner followed in a few hours. The manner of 
our cookery excited astonishment in our hosts. 
As much beef was consumed at a single meal, as 
would have served this family for a week. Re- 
member, however, that the mess consisted of 
persons who were entitled to double and treble 
rations. Two rosy-cheeked daughters of the 
house, soon contrived the means and obtained 
ilie surplus. This circumstance, most probably, 
made us agreeable to the family, for we had 
nothing else to bestow. The snow had now fal- 
len in abundance, and enlivened the country. 
Sleighs and sleds were passing in every direction. 
The farmers began to supply themselves with a 
full stock of winter*s fuel from tlte forest. No 
fowls were visible about the house — a few were 
kept alive for breeding in the ensuing summer, in 
a close and warm coop in the upper-story of the 
barn. The rest of the fowls, intended for the 
market or winter's use, had been slaughtered, 
early in autumn, at setting in of the frost, and 
were hung up in the feathers in the garret. 
Thence they were taken as wanted. Towards 
march they become unsavoury, but in no way 
tainted. We became acquainted with this kind 
of economy, but upon a mueh larger scale af- 
terwards, when in a state of affliction and sor- 
row. The roads in this part of Canada are kept 
in excellent order. The corvee of European 
France is maintained by the government in full 
^'ifeet^ as to its principles, but far less rigid In 
I 



98 

Us practice. The roads in low grounds, were 
ditched on the sides and curved towards the cen- 
tre. Every forty or fifty yards on each side of the 
road, throughout the extent of it, young pines 
were stuck in the ground, to mark the central 
and safest passage. It is a law, that the landhold- 
er, whenever a snow falls, whether hy day or 
night, when it ceases, shall with his horses and 
eariole, retrace the road, formed on the preced- 
ing snow, throughout the extent of his grounds. 
This is a laborious duty, but it was discernible, 
that it was performed with punctuality, if not 
pleasure. In December, January, and February, 
when the snow lays from three to iive feet deep 
over the surface, there is no travelling in this 
<?ountry, but by ways thus formed, or upon snow 
shoes. 

On the iirst of December, general Montgo- 
mery, who was anxiously expected, arrived. Ar- 
nold's corps, was paraded in the front of the cha- 
pel. It was lowring and cold, but the appear- 
ance of the general here, gave us warmth and 
•animation. He was well limbed, tall and hand- 
some, though his face was much pock-marked. 
His air and manner, designated the real soldier. 
He made us a short, but energetic and elegant 
speech, the burthen of which, was an applause 
of our spirit in passing the wilderness; a hope, 
our perseverance in that spirit would continue ; 
and a promise of warm clothing; the latter 
"was a most comfortable assurance. A few huz- 
zas from our freezing bodies, were returned 
to this address of the gallant hero. Now new 
life was infused into the whole of the corps. 

The next day (December 2d,) we retraced the 
route from Quebec. A snow had fallen during 
the night, and continued falling. To march on 
tills snow, was a most fatiguing business. By 



99 

Ibis time, we had generally furnished ourselves 
with seal-skin mockasins, which are large, and 
according to the usage of the country, stuffed 
with hay or leaves, to keep the feet dry and 
warm. Every step taken in tlie dry snow, the 
mockasin having no raised heel to support the 
position of the foot, it slipped back, and thus 
produced great weariness. On this inarch the 
use of the snow-shoe was very obvious, but we 
were destitute of that article. The evening 
brought up the riflemen at an extensive house, 
in the parish of St. Foix, about three miles 
from Quebec. It was inhabited by tenants. We 
took possession of a front parlour on the left, 
Morgan, one upon the right, Hendricks, a back 
apartment, and the soldiery iix the upper parts 
of the house, and some warm out-buildings. 

The next day (December Sd,) Morgan not 
finding himself comfortable, moved a short space 
nearer to the city. Here, in low and pretty coun- 
try houses, he and his men, were neatly accom- 
modated. It seemed to me, that the Canadians, 
in the vicinage of Quebec, lived as comfortably, 
in general, as the generality of the Pennsylva- 
nians did, at that time, in the county of Lan- 
caster. It may readily occur to you, that some 
restriction ought to cramp this latitude of ex- 
pression ; take it, however, as a description 
of our sensations, entertained in our minds by 
the conveniences we now enjoyed, in opposition 
to our late privations. We had just arrived from 
a dreary and inhospitable wild, half-starved and 
thinly clothed, in a land of plenty, where we 
had full rations and warm quarters, consequent- 
ly, our present feelings contrasted with former 
sufferings, might have appreciated in too high 
a degree, the happiness of the Canadian. What 



100 

is now said, oiiglit not to be taken in anywise, 
as an allusion to tiie political rights, but be con- 
iined solely to the apparent prosperity and eco- 
nomy of families. 

December 12th. We remained about ten days 
at these quarters. The tours of duty, to Arnold's 
jmrty, were peculiarly severe. The officers 
and men, still wore nothing else, than the re- 
mains of the summer clothing, ^vhich being on 
their back, had escaped destruction in the dis- 
asters of the wilderness. The snow lay three 
feet deep over the face of the whole countryj, 
and there was an addition to it almost daily. 
Many impediments occurred, to delay the trans- 
portation of the clothing, which general Mont- 
gomery had procured for us at Montreal. Our 
miserable state, contrary to our principles, ex- 
aited an illicit desire, to be apparrelled more 
^•omfortabiy. This desire would probably have 
lain dormant, but for a scoundrel C^^nadian^ 
who in all likelihood, was an enemy of Lieuten- 
ant Governor Cromie's^ One morning having 
■s'c turned from a cold night's diity, near palace- 
gate, the fellow addressed Simpson, who was 
the only officer in quarters, and communicated 
ihe information : *« That about two miles up 
•* the St. Lawrence, lay a country seat of Go- 
-* vernor CVpmie's, stocked with many things 
' we wanted, and he would be our guide.'^ Ca- 
viole's were immediately procured. The house, 
a neat box> was romantically situated on the 
steep bank of the river, not very distant from a 
chapel. Though in the midst of winter, the 
npot displayed the elegant taste and abundant 
wealth of the owner. It must be a most delight- 
ful summer residence, in the months of Jnly 
nud August, when the heat of this northern cii- 



101 

mate/ seems greater to sensation^ than that id 
euv country, in the same season. The house 
was closed; knocking, the hall-door ^as opened 
to us by an Irishwoman, Avho, of the fair sex, 
was the largest and most hrawny, that ever 
eame under my notice. She was the stewardess 
of the house* .. Our questions were answered 
with an apparent affability and frankness. She 
introduced us into the kitchen, a large apart- 
ment, welliilled with those articles, Avhich good- 
iivers think necessary, to the happy enjoyment 
of life. Here we observed, five or six Canadian 
servants, huddled into a corner of the kitchen, 
trembling with fear. Our prying eyes, soon 
discovered a trap-door leading into the cellar. 
In the country houses of Canada, because of 
the frigidity of the climate, the cellars are usu- 
ally under a warm room, and are principally 
intended, for the preservation of vegetables. 
The cavity in this instance, abounded with a 
great variety of eatables, of which, we were 
not in the immediate want.. The men entered 
k — ^Firkin, after tirkin of butter; lard, tallow^ 
beef, porkr fresh and salt — all became a prey, 
"^l^hile the men were rummaging below, the 
lieutenant descended to cause more despatch. 
My duty' was to remain at the end of the trap- 
door, with my back to the wall, and rifle cock- 
ed as a sentry, keeping a strict eye on the ser- 
irants. My good Irishwoman frequently beck- 
oned to me to descend: her drift was- to catch 
us all in the trap. Luckily she was compre- 
hended. The cellar and kitchen being thorough- 
ly gutted, and the spoil borne to the carriages, 
the party dispersed into the other apartments. 
Here was elegancy. The walls and partitions, 
w^re beautifully 'papered and decorated, with 
I 2 



102 

large engravings, maps, &c. &c. of <lie most cele- 
br.iled artists. A noble viewof tbe cit;^ of Phila- 
del^ihia, upon a large scale, taken from the neigh- 
bourhood of Cooper's ferry, drew my attention, 
and raised some eompunctivfc ideas; but war and 
the sciences always stand at arms length in the 
contests of mankind. The lattec must snccumb 
in rhe tumult. Our attention vyas much more 
attracted by the costly feather beds, couiUer- 
panes, and charming rose-blankets, which the 
house afforded. Of these there was good store, 
and we left not a jot behind us. The nooks and 
crevices in the carioles, were filled with smaller 
articles; several dozens of admirably finished 
case-knives and forks — even a sett of desert 
knives obtained the notice of our cupidity. Ar- 
ticles of lesser moment, not a thousandth part 
so useful, did not escape the all-grasping hands 
of the soldiery. In a back apartment, there 
stood a mahogany couch, or settee in a highly 
finished style. The woodwork of the couch was 
raised on all sides by cushioning, and lastly, 
covered by a rich figured silk. This to us, was 
lumber, besides our carioles were full. How- 
ever, we grabbed the matrass and pallets, all 
equally elegant as the couch: Having, as we 
thought, divested his Excellency of all the arti- 
cles of prime necessity, we departed, ostensibly 
and even audibly accompanied by the pious bless- 
ings of the stewardess for our moderation* No 
doubt she had her mental reservations; on such 
business as this^ we regarded neither. Near the 
chapel, we met a party of Morgan's men com- 
ing to do that, which we had already done. The 
officer appeared chagrined when he saw the ex- 
tent of our plunder. He went on, and finally 
ransacked the house, and yet a little more> the 



103 

stables. The joy of our men, amon,^ whom, the 
plunder was distributed in nearly equal poinio is, 
was extravagant. Now an operation of tiie hu- 
man mind, which often takes place in soci(-ty, 
and is €very day discernible^ by persons of obser- 
vation, became clearly obvious. •* Liet a man 
*< once with impunity, desert tbe strict rule of 
<•' right, all subsequent aggression, is not only 
" increases in atrocity, biit is done without 
<* qualm of conscience." Though our company 
was composed nrincipally of freeholders, or the 
sons of such, bred at home under the strictures 
of religion and morality, yet when the reins of 
decorum were loosed, and the honorable feeling 
weakened, it became impossible to administer 
restraint. The person of a tory, or his proper- 
ty, became fair game, and tliis at the denunci- 
ation of some base domestic villain. 

On the morning following, (Dec. 13th,) the 
same audacious scoundrel again returned. By 
leading to the first affair, and his intercourses 
with the privates, he had so wormed hitnself in- 
to their good graces, that nothing would do but 
a system of marauding upon our supposed ene- 
mies, the tories. In this new expedition, which 
was further than the former, the officers thought 
it prudent to accompany the men, in truth, ta 
keep order and repress their ardency. We ar- 
rived at a farm said to belong to Gov. Cromie or, 
some other inhabitant of Quebec. The farm- 
house, though low, being but one story, was 
capacious, and tolerably neat. The barn built 
of logs, with a threshing-floor in the centre, 
was from seventy to eighty feet in length. Tlie 
tenant, his wife, and children, shuddered upon 
mir approach. Assurances that they should be 
iiubarmed> relieved their fears. The tenant 



104 

pointed out to us (lie liorned-caltle, pigs, and 
pj/iiltrv of his landlord. These we shot down 
without iTierc;j, or drove before us to our quar^ 
ters. Thus we obtained a tolerable load for 
our caravan, which consisted of five or six ea- 
yioles. 

With this disreputable exploit, marauding; 
ceased. A returning sense of decency and or- 
der, emanating from ourselves, produced a spe- 
cies of contrition. It is a solemn truth* Iha* 
we plundered none, but those who were nolo* 
riously tories, and then within the walls of Que- 
bec. The clergy, the nobles, and the peasan- 
try, were respected and protected, especially 
the latter, with whom, to use a trite expression, 
we fraternized* The minuteness of this descrip- 
tion of occurrences, of a trivial, yet disgrace- 
ful nature, is made the more strongly to impress 
your minds, with the horrors attendant ou civil 
wars. This species of war, more than any other. 
Slot only affects the great and the wealthy, but 
it intrudes itself into, and devastates the cottage. 
This the American people know, from the ma- 
ny melancholy scenes, which succeeded the pe- 
riod spoken of. 

Gracious and Almighty God! the shield and 
protector of the good^ as well as thou art the 
scourge of the base and wicked nation, avert 
from my country, this the most terrible of thy 
modes of temporal vengeance. 

Deeember 15th» In a short time, the rifle 
companies moved and occupied good quarters 
on the low grounds, near St. Charles' river, and 
about two miles from Quebec. Our clothing 
was still of the flimsy kind, before noted, but 
our hearts were light, even to merriment. In- 
dividually, from our own funds, we supplied our 



105 

selves with arm-gloves, and i*enewed our moe- 
kasins. Tliis was about the niiddle of Decetn- 
Ucr. During all this time, our daily duty was 
laborious in various ways, and every other night, 
we mounted guard at St. Roque. A guard- 
ho'jse, ere this had been established at thia 
place, in a very large stone-house, which, though 
strong, being exposed to the enemy's iire, w as 
soon battered about our ears, the distance scarce^ 
ly more than three hundred yanis. That po- 
sition was changed tor one more secure. A 
house, which had been a tavern, was adopted 
in its stead. This house was peculiarly situ- 
ated. It was comparatively small with the form- 
er in its dimensions^ but the walls were strong, 
and the cieiings bomb-proof. It stood under the 
hill, so as to be out of the range of the shot, 
from the ramparts contiguous to Palace gate, 
which were elevated far above us. Simpson 
would say, Jack, let us have a shot at those fel- 
lows. Even at noon-day, we would creep along 
close to the houses, which ranged under the hill, 
but close ill witli it, till we came within forty 
yards of Palace-gate. Here was a smith-shop, 
formed of logs, through the crevices, of which, 
we would fire, aJ an angle of 70, at the sentries 
above us. Many of them were killed, and it was 
said, several officers. This was dishonorable 
war, though authorized by the practices of 
those times. The distance from this guard- 
house to Palace-gate, may be three hundred 
and fifty yards. The hill, at the back of the 
house, seemed to make an angle of 60 or 70^ 
degrees. This aelivity continued from the walls 
of the city, and around it by the Lower town, 
(where it is greatest,) for many miles up the 
St. Lawrence and St, Charles, and forms the 



106 

basis of Abrabam's Plains. It was about tbat 
time the York artillerists, under captain Lamb, 
had constructed a battery oh the Plains, at the 
distance of 600 or 700 yards from the fortress. 
The earth was too difficult for the intrenching 
tools to pierce, the only method left, was to 
raise a battery composed of ice and snow. The 
snow was made into ice by the addition of water. 
The work was done in the night tisne. Five or 
six nine-pounders, and a howitzer were placed 
in it ; it was scarcely completed, and our guns 
bad opened on the city, before it was pierced 
through and through, by the weightier metal 
of the enemy. Several lives were lost on the 
first and second day. Yet the experiment was 
persisted in, till a single ball, piercing the batte- 
ry, killed and wounded three persons. In the 
quarters last mentioned, we enjoyed some pleas- 
ant days. The winter in Canada, as with us, 
is the season of good humour and joy. 

December 18th, 19th. Upon a secession from 
the out-post, or other military employments, 
we were agreebly received in the farm houses 
around. Our engagements near Palace-gate, 
still continued to be of the arduous kind: our 
numbers being few, every second watch was 
performed by the same persons, who had made 
the guard the last but one. Between the guard- 
house, and the extreme end of the suburhs of 
St. Roque, which may be half a mile from the 
ramparts, there was a rising ground in the 
main street fairly in view of the CLiemy, and 
whilst we relieved in daylight, was raked, even 
by grape-shot. Some good men were lost here. 
This circumstance, changed the time of relief, 
to nine o'clock in the evening. The rifle-men 



.07 

were principally employed as guards, at this dan- 
gerous station. It is but fair and honest, to 
relate to you, an anecdote concerning myself^ 
which will convey to your minds, some no- 
lion of that affection, of the head or heart, 
which the military call a panic-terror. Being 
one of the guard and having been relieved as a 
sentry, about twelve or one o'clock at night, 
upon returning to the guard-house, in a dozing 
state; I cast myself on a bench, next the back 
wall — young, my sleeps were deep and heavy; 
my youth obtained this grace from Simpson, 
the officer who commanded ; about three o'clock, 
I was roused by a horrible noise. The enemy, 
in casting their shells, usually began in the 
evening, and threw but a few, towards morning, 
they became more alert. Our station being out 
of sight, it was so managed, as to throw the 
shells on the side of the hill, directly back of 
us, so as they would trundle down against the 
wall of the guard-house. This had frequently 
occurred before, but was not minded. A thir- 
teen- inch shell, thus thrown, came immediate- 
ly opposite the place, where my head lay ; to 
be sure, the three feet wall was between us. 
The bursting report was tremendous, but it was 
heard in a profound sleep. Starting instantly, 
though unconscious of the cause, and running 
probably fifty yards, through untrod snow, three 
feet deep, to a coal-house, a place quite un- 
known to me before ; It was ten or fifteen minu- 
tes before the extreme cold, restored that kind 
of sensibility, which enabled me to know my real 
situation. Knowing nothing of the cause, the 
probable effect nor any thing of the consequences, 
which might follow from this involuntary exer- 
tion, it seemed to me to be a species of the panic. 



106 

-which has heen known to affect whole arniiesi. 
The circumstance here related, caused a laugh 
against me ; hut it was soon discovered, that 
those of the soldiery, though wide awake, were 
as much panic stricken as myself. The laugh 
rebounded upon them. During this period, we 
had many hitter nights. To give you some idea 
of a Canada winter, allow me to relate an oc- 
currence, which is literally genuine. 

December 24th. One night, at the time of re- 
lief, a confidential persen came from colonel 
Arnold, accompanied by an Irish gentleman, nam- 
ed Craig, directing the relieved guard to escort 
him to his own house, which stood between twenty 
and tliirty paces from Palaee-gatc. Craig was a 
Tiierchant of considerable wealth, and what was 
more, an excellent whig. He was expelled from 
his habitation because of his whigism, and took 
?'efuge in Arnold's quarters. Montgomery, by 
vhis time, had furnished us with personal cloth- 
ing suitable to the climate, but tljere were a 
thousand other things wanting for comfortable 
accommodation. Many of these Mr. Craig pos- 
sessed, and Arnold's luxurious cupidity desired. 
Craig's house >vas an extensive building, three 
stories high, with back buildings of an equal 
height, running far in the rear along the foot 
of the hill. This last building consisted of 
stores, which, as well as the house, was of brick 
"work. We came to the back part of the house 
silently, and with the utmost caution, Mr. 
Craig, by a slight knock brought a trusty old 
negro to the door, who was the sole guardian of 
the house. The objects of Mr. Craig were fry- 
ing-pans, skillets, and a great variety of other 
articles of ironmongery, together with clotlis, 
^anneis, linnens, 6ce. &c. &:c. The party with 



109 

Craig entered the house. As a man of confi- 
dence, and as a seniry, it beeauie inj business to 
watch the Palace-gate. There was a clear 
moonlight, hut it was exceedingly bleak« My 
place of observation was under a brick arch, 
over which were stores of Mr. Craig, perhaps 
less than eighty feet from Palace-gate. My 
gloves were good and well lined with fur, and 
my mockasins of the best kind, well stuiTcd. Un- 
seen — continually pacing the width of the arch : 
My companions seemed to employ too much 
^ime. Some Frenchmen, of colonel Livingston's 
regiment, without our knowledge, had been be- 
low Palace-gate marauding. Repassing the 
house we were at, like so many hell-hounds, they 
set up a yelling and horrid din, which not only 
scared our party, but alarmed the garrison itself. 
My companions in the house (apjirchensive of 
a sally from Palace-gate,) tied, carrying all 
Ihey could. Though I heard the noise, tlic 
flight of my friends was unseen, as they emerg- 
ed from the cellars. The noise and bustle cre- 
ated by the Canadians attracted the attention of 
the enemy. Large and small shells were 
thrown in every direction, wherever a noise was 
heard in St. Roque. Having on a line white 
blanket coat, and turning my cap or " bonnet 
rouge," inside out, the inside. being white, made 
me, as it were, invisible in the snow. Under the 
arch the conversation of the sentries, as it were, 
almost over my head, was very distinguishable. 
In this cold region, many reasons operate to in- 
duce the placing two sentries at the same post — 
Ihey enliv-en each other by conversing, and it 
prevents the fatal effects which follow from 
standing still in one position. Fifteen minutes, 
at this tiqjc, was the terra of the sentries, stand- 
K 



110 

ing. The time of my standing under the areli 
seemed to be several hours, yet honor and duty 
required perseverance. At length, being wearied 
out — going to the back door of the house and 
knocking — no whisper could be heard within— 
the old negro was soundly asleep in his bomb- 
proof shell. At this moment those Canadians 
ran past the gateway again, with their usual 
Koisy jabber ; t# me, in my deserted state, it 
seemed a sally of the enemy. There was no 
outlet but by the way we came, which seemed 
hazardous. Running gun in hand into a large 
enclosure, which was a garden of Mr. Craig's : 
liere was a new dilemma. There was no escape 
l^ut by returning to the house or climbing a pali- 
sade twenty feet high. The latter was prefer- 
cd; but my rifle was left within the enclosure, 
as no means could be fallen upon to get it over 
the stockade. The guard-house was soon reach- 
ed. One of the sergeants kindly returned with 
me to assist in bringing over my gun. It was 
grasped in extacy: Alas ! the determination never 
to part with it again, but witli life, was futile. 
While in the enclosure, going from and returning 
to it, we were assailed with grape-shot and 
shells, not by any means aimed at us, for the 
enemy knew not that we were there, but was in- 
tended to disperse those vociferous and vile Ca- 
nadians, and it had the effect. They were as 
cowardly as noisy. The cohorn shells were 
handsomely managed. They usually burst at 
iifteen or twenty feet from the earth, so as to 
scatter their destructive effects more widely. 
Again coming to the guard-house, my immedi- 
ate friends all gone, 1 ran thence to our quar- 
ters about two miles, with great speed. This 
was about three o'clock in the morning. Com- 



Ill 

ing to quarters, my feet and hands were nuinlMed^ 
without ever having, during those many dreary 
hours, been sensible of the cold. It was soon 
discovered that they were frozen. Pulling off 
my leggins, &c. and iminerging my feet and legs 
knee deep in the snow at the door, rubbing with 
my hands a few minutes, soon caused a recircu- 
lation of the blood 5 the hands were restored by 
the act. For fifteen, and even twenty years af- 
terwards, the intolerable effects of that night's 
frost were most sensibly felt. The soles of my feet, 
particularly, the prominencies, were severly 
frostbitten and much inflamed : so it was as ta 
my hands. But it was very remarkable that 
these subsequent annual painings, uniformly at- 
tacked me in the same month of the year ia 
which the cause occurred. 

On the night of the 20th, or 21st of December^ 
a snow-storm, driving fiercelyfrom the north-east, 
induced the noble Montgomery, to order an at- 
tack on the fortress. Our force altogether, did 
not amount to more than eleven hundred men, 
and many of these, by contrivances of their own, 
were in the hospital, which, by this lime, was 
transferred to the nunnery. The storm abated — 
the moon shone, and we retired to repose, truly 
unwillingly. We had caught our commander's 
spirit, who was anxious, after the capture of 
Chamblee, St. Johns, and Montreal, to add Que- 
bec, as a prime trophy to the laurels already won. 
Captain Smith, the head of our mess, as captain, 
had been invited to general Montgomery's coun- 
cil of officers, (none under that grade being cal- 
led,) like most of uninstructed men, he was talk- 
ative, and what is much worse in military atfairsg 
very communicative. I believe blushing fol- 
lowed the intelligence he gave me : the idea of 



112 

impropriety of conduct in him, deeply impress- 
ed my mind. The wiiole plan of the attack on 
the two following days, was known to the mean- 
est man in the army. How it was disclosed, is 
tmcertain, unless by the fatuity of the captains. 
One Singleton, a sergeant in the troops which 
accompanied Montgomery, deserted from the 
guard at the suburbs of St. .John's, and disclosed 
to our foes the purport of our schemes; his de- 
sertion caused much anxiety. The general pra- 
dently gave out that it was by command, he 
would return soon with intelligence. This was 
believed generally. The latter information came 
to my knowledge some months afterwards, when 
a prisoner. The relation of Smith to me, is 
perfect on my memory. Youths seldom forget 
their juvenile impressions. It was this: <*^That 
«• we, of Arnold's corps, accompanied by cap- 
"^tain Lang's York artillerists, should assail the 
** lower town, on the side of St. Roque : general 
•• Montgomery was to attack the lower town by 
"• the way of cape Diamond, which is on the 
** margin of the St. Lawrence. A false attack 
** was to be made eastwardly of St. John's gate. 
*• When Montgomery and Arnold conjoined in 
"^ the lower town, then the priests, the women 
** and the chihh'cn, were to be gathered and in- 
*♦ termingled with the tr^oops, and an assault be 
<• matle on the upper town." Visionary as this 
.mode of attack was, from what ensued, it is 
sincerely my belief that Smith was correct in 
his information, as to the plan suggested by the 
general. In those turbulent times, men of gal- 
lantry, such as Montgomery, were imperiously 
necessitated, to keep up their own fame and the 
spirits of the people, to propose and to hazard 
measures, even to the confines of imprudence. 



113 

There was another cipcumstance which indueed 
our bruve and worthy general, to adopt active 
and dangerous means of conquest. Many of the 
New-England troops had been engaged on very 
short enlistments, some of which were to expire 
on the first of January, 1776. The patriotism of 
the summer of seventy-five, seemed almost ex- 
tinguished in the winter of seventy-six. The 
patriotic officers made every exertion to induce 
enlistments, but to no purpose. We, of the ** ri- 
fle corps,'* readily assented to remain with the 
general, though he should be deserted by the 
eastern men, yet this example had no manner of 
influence on the generality. The majority v/ere 
either farmers or sailors, and some had wives 
and children at home. These, and other rea- 
sons, perhaps the austerity of the winter, and 
the harshness of the service, caused an obstinacy 
of mind, which would not submit to patriotic re- 
presentation. Besides the smallpox,* which had 
been introduced into our cantonments by the in- 
decorous, yet fascinating arts of the enemy, had 
already begun its ravages. This temper of the 
men was well known to the general. 

It was not until the night of the thirty -first 
of December, one thousand seven hundred and 
seventy-five, that such kind of weather ensued 
as was considered favorable for the assault#> 
The forepart of the night was^ admirably enr 
lightened by a luminous moon. Many of us, 
officers as well as privates, had dispersed iri 
various directions among the farm and tippling 
houses of the vicinity. AVe well knew the signal 
for rallying. This was no other than a <* snow- 
storm.'' About 12 o'clock P. M. the heaven 

* See Note IV. 

K 52 



114 

tvas overcast. We repaired to quarters. By 2 
o'clock we were accoutred and began our inarch. 
The storm was outrageous, and the cold wind 
extremely biting. In this northern country the 
snow is blown horizontally into the faces of tra- 
vellers on most occasions — this was our case. 

January 1st. When we came to Craig's house^ 
near Palace-gate, a horrible roar of cannon took 
place, and a ringing of all the bells of the ciiy, 
^liich are very numerous, and of all sizes. Ar- 
nold, heading the forlorn hope, advanced, per- 
haps, one hundred yards, before the nrain body. 
After these, followed Lamb's artillerists. Mor- 
gan's company, led in the secondary part of 
the column of infantry. Smith's followed, head- 
ed by Steele, the captain, from partic*ular caus- 
es, being absent. Hendrick's company succeed- 
ed, and the eastern men, so far as known to 
me, followed in due order. The snow was deeper 
than in the tields, because of the nature of the 
ground. The path made by Arnold, Lamb, and 
Morgan, was almost imperceptible, because of 
the falling snow covering the locks of our guns, 
with the lappets of our coats, holding down our 
heads, (for it was impossible to bear up our 
faces, against the imperious storm of wind and 
snow,) we ran along the foot of the hill in sin- 
gle tile. Along the first of our run, from Piilace- 
gate, for several hundred paces, there stood a 
range of insulated buildings, which seemed to 
be store-houses, we passed these quickly in sin- 
gle lile, pretty wide apart. The interstices 
were from thirty to fifty yards. In these inter- 
vals, v/e received a tremendous fire of musket- 
ry from the ramparts above us. Here we lost 
some brave men, when powerless to return the 
salutes we received, as the caemy was covered 



115 

hy liis impregnable defences. They were even 
sightless to us, we could sec nuthiii»; but the 
blaze from the muzzles of their muskets. 

A number of vessels of various sizes, lay 
along the beach, moored by their hawsers or 
cables to the houses. Pacing after my leader, 
lietitenar.t Steele, at a great rate, one of those 
ropes took me under the chin, and cast me head- 
long down, a declivity of at least fifteen feetl 
The place appeared to be either a drydoek, op 
a sawpit. My descent was terrible ; gun and 
all was involved in a great depth of snow. Most 
linluekily, however, one of my knees received 
a violent contusion on a piece of scraggy ice, 
which was covered by the snow. On like occa- 
sions, we can scarce expect in the hurry of at- 
tack, that our intimates should attend to any 
other, than their own concerns. Mine went from 
me, regardless of my fate. Scrabl)lii)g out of 
the cavity, without assistance, divesdng my 
person and gun of the snow, and limping into 
the line, it was attempted to assume a station^ 
and preserve it. These were none of my friends 
' — they knew me not. We had not gone twenty 
yards, in my hobbling gait, before I was thrown 
out, and compelled to await the arrival, of a 
chasm in the line, where a new place might be 
obtained. Men in affairs such as this, seem 
in the main, to lose the compassionate feeling, 
and are averse from being dislodged from their 
original stations. We proceeded rapidly, ex- 
posed to a long line of fire from the garrison, 
for BOW we were unprotected by any buildings. 
The fire had slackened in a snrall degree. The 
enemy had been partly called ofl' to resist the 
general, and strengthen the party opposed to 
Arnold in our front. Now we saw colonel Ar- 



IIG 

Bold returning, wounded in the leg, and siip^ 
ported by two gentlemen, a piti'hon Spring was 
one, and in my belief, a Mr. Ogden, the other. 
Arnold called to the troops, in a cheering voice, 
as we passed, urging us forward, yet it was ob- 
servable among tlie soldiery, with whom it was 
my misfortune to be now plat?ed, that the co- 
lonel's retiring damped their spirits. A cant 
term ^* We are sold," was repeatedly heard 
in many parts throughout the line. Thus pro- 
ceeding enfiladed by an animated but lessened 
fire, we came to the first barrier, where Arnold 
Lad been wounded in the onset. This contest 
had lasted, but a few minutes, and was some- 
Avhat severe, but the energy of our men pre- 
Yailed. The embrasures were entered when 
tlie enemy were discharging their guns. The 
guard, consisting of thirty persons, were either 
taken or fled, leaving their arms behind them. 
At this time, it was discovered that our guns 
were useless, because of the dampness. The 
snow, which lodged in our fleecy coals, was 
melted, by the warmth of our bodies. Thence 
came thai disaster. Many of the party, know- 
ing the circumstance, threw aside their own, and 
seized the British arms. These were not only 
elegant, but were such, as befitted the hand of 
a real soldier. It was said, that ten thousand 
stand of such arms, had been received from 
England, in the previous summer for arming 
the Canadian militia. Those people were loath 
to bear them in opposition to our rights. From 
the first barrier to the second, there was a 
circular course along the sides of houses, and 
partly through a street, probably of three hun- 
dred yards, or more. This second biirrier, was 
erected across, and near the moutli of a narrow 





117 

eet, adjacent to the foot of the hill, which 
opened into a larger, leading soon into the main 
body of the lower town. Here it was, that the 
most serious contention took pla^e : this became 
(he bone of strife. The aduu^able Montgome- 
IT> by this time, (though iPwas unknown to 
lis,) was no more^ y*"t, we expected momentari- 
ly, to join him. The firing on that side of the 
fortress ceased, his division fell under the com- 
mand of a eolotiel Campbell, of the New- York 
line, a wortiiless chief, who retreated, without 
making an effort, in pursuance of the general's 
original plans. The inevitable consequence, 
wasjj^hat the wliolc of the forces on that side 
of imfahy, and tJiose, who were opposed to the 
dastardly persons employed to make the false 
attacks, embodied and came down to oppose our 
division. Here was sharp- sliooting. We were 
on the disadvantageous side of the barrier, for 
such a purpose. Confined in a narrow street, 
hardly more than twenty feet wide, and on the 
lower ground, scarcely a ball, well aimed or 
otherwise, but must take effect upon us. Mor- 
gan, Hendricks, Steele, Humphreys, and ^ 
crowd of every class of the army, had gathered 
into the narrow pass, attempting to surmount the 
barrier, which was about twelve or more feet 
high, and so strongly constructed, that nothing 
but artillery, could effectuate its destruction. 
There was a construction, fifteen or twei>ty 
yards, within the barrier, upon a rising ground, 
the cannon of whicli, much overtopped the 
height of the barrier, hence, we were assailed^ 
by grape shot in abundance — 'VhU erection we 
called the platform. Again, witl»in the bar- 
rier, and close in to it, were two ranges of 
musketeers, armed witli musket and bayonet^ 



118 

ready to receive those, who might venture the 
ifengerous leap. Add toali;4hiiJ, that the ene- 
my occupied the upper chanai1)ers of the houses, 
in the interior of the barrier, on both sides of 
the street, fromjlhe windows of which, we be- 
eanie fair marks. %he enemy, having the advant- 
age of the ground in front, a vast superiority oi^ 
numbers, dry and better arms, gave tliem an ir- 
resistible power, in so narrow a space. Hum- 
plirey's upon a mound, which w%s speedily erect- 
ed, attended by many brave men, att^empted i^ 
scale the barrier, but was compelled to re treaty 
by the formidable phalanx of bayonets within» 
and the weight of fire, from th^ platforjQi an4 
the buildings. Morgan, brave to tewi'ityi, 
stormed and raged, Hendricks, Steele, Nichols* 
Humphreys, equally brave, were sedate, though^ 
under a tremendous fire. The platform, whielik 
was within our view, was evacuated by the ac- 
curacy of our fire, and few persons, dared ven- 
ture there again. Now it was, that the neces- 
sity of the occupancy of the houses, on our side 
of the barrier, became apparent. Orders were 
given by Morgan, to that eflTect — We entered — 
this was near daylight. The houses were a shel- 
ter, from which, we could fire with much accu- 
racy. Yet, even here, some valuable lives .were 
lost. Hendricks, when aiming his rifle at some 
prominent person, died by a straggling ball, 
through his heart. He staggered a few feet 
backwards, and fell upon a bed, where he in- 
stantly expired. He was an ornament of our 
little society. The amiable Humphreys died 
by a like kind of wound, but it was in the street, 
before we entered the buildings. Many other 
brave men fell at this place, among these were 
lieutenant Cooper, of Couneeticutj and perhaps 




11^ 



fifty or sixty non-eommissioned ofiicers, and 
privates. The wounded, were numerous, and 
many of them dangerously so. Captain Lamb^ 
of the York artillerists, had nearly one half of 
his face carried away^ by a grape or cannistei' 
shot. My friend Steele, lost three of his fin- 
gers, as he was presenting his gun to fire ; cap- 
tain Hubbard and lieutenant Fisdle, were also 
an\ong tiie wounded. When w^^t^fleet upon the 
whole of the dangers at this bai'fSoade, and the 
formidable force, that came to ** annoy us, it is a 
*^ matter of surprise, that so many should es- 
« cape death and wounding, as did.'^ Ail hope 
of success, having vanished, a retreat was <'on- 
tempHlted, but hesitation, uncertainty, and a las- 
situde of mind, which generally takes place, in 
the affairs of men, when we fail in a project, 
upon which, we have attached mujeh expecta- 
tion, now followed. That moment was foolish- 
ly lost, when such a movement might have been 
made with tolerable success. Captain Laws, 
at the head of two hundred men, issuing from 
Palace-gate, most fairly and handsomely cooped 
us up. Many of the men, aware of the conse*- 
quences, and all our Indians and Canadians, (ex- 
cept Natanis and another,) escaped across the 
ice, which covered the bay of St. Charles, be- 
fore the arrival of captain Laws, This was a 
dangerous and desperate adventure, but worth- 
while the undertaking, in avoidance of our sub- 
sequent sufferings. Jts desperateness, consisted 
in running two miles across shoal ice^, thrown 
up by the high tides of this latitude — and its 
danger, in the meeting with air holes^ decep- 
tively covered by the bed of snow. 

* See general Nicholas letter. 



120 

Speaking circumspectly, yet it must be admit* 
led conjecturall^, it seems to me^ that in the 
whole of the attack, of commissioned officers, we 
had six killed, five wounded, and of non-com- 
missioned and privates, at least one hundred and 
jSfty killed, and fifty or sixty wounded. Of the 
enemy, many were killed and many more wound- 
ed, comparatively, than on our side, taking into 
view the disai^^^tages we laboured under; and 
that but twoilP^sions happened when we could 
return their,;iire, that is, at the first and second 
barriers. Neither the American account of this 
affair, as published by congress, nor that of sir 
Guy Carleton, admit the loss of either side to 
be so ^great as it really Avas, in my estij^^tion. 
It seems to be an universal practice among bel- 
ligerants of all nations, to lessen the number of 
the slain of the side of the party which reports 
the event, and to increase it on the part of the 
enemy. Having had pretty good opportunities 
of forming a juist opinion on the subject, it is 
hoped that gentlemen who have thought or writ- 
ten differently, will not disdain to listen to my 
argument. As to the British ; on the platform 
thoy were fair objects to us. They were soon 
driven thence by tlie acuteness of our shooting, 
which in our apprehension must have destroyed 
many. Perhaps there never was a body of men 
associated, who better understood the use and 
manner of employing a rifle, than our corps : 
which by this time of the attack, had their guns 
in good order. When we took possession of the 
Jhouses, we had a greater range. Our opportu- 
nities to kill, were enlarged. Within one hun- 
dred yards, every man must die. The British^ 
however, were at home — they could easily drag 
their dead out of sight, and bear their wounded 



121 

lo^^he hospital. It was the reverse with uSe 
Captain Prentis, who commanded the >>i*oyos1t 
guards, would tell me of seven or eieht killod,^ 
and fil'teen or twenty wounded. Opposed to this, 
the sentries, (who were generally Irishmen, 
that guarded us with much simplicity, if not 
honesty,) frequently admitted of forty or fifty 
killed, and many more wounded. The laiter 
assertions accorded with my opinion. The rea- 
sons for this belief are these : When the dead, 
on the following days, were transported on the 
carioles, passed our habitation for depositiora in 
the " dead house," we observed many bodies, of 
which none of us had any knowledge : and again, 
Avhen <|ur wounded were returned to us frorfi the 
hospital, they uniformly spoke of being sur- 
rounded there, in its many chambers, by many 
of the wounded of the enen»y. To the great 
honor of general Carleton, they were all, whether 
friends or enemies, treated with like attention 
and humanity. Tlie i*eason why the wounded 
©f our side bore so small a proportion to the 
dead, seems to be this : In the long course we ran 
from Palace- gate to the first harrier, we lost 
Eiany men who were killed outright, but many 
more died, who were merely wounded, yet In 
such a manner, as in a milder region, to make 
the case a curable one. A blow from a ball so 
I^irge as that of a musket, staggers a man, 
whether the wound be in the arm, leg or, else- 
where; if in staggering, he falls, he comes down 
into a deep bed of snow, from which a hale man 
finds it very ditficult to extricate himself. Five 
or ten minutes struggling in such a bed. be- 
numbs the strongest man, ^s frequent experi- 
ence has taught me; if the party be Avounded, 
though but slightly, twenty or thirty minutes 

1j 



i»^ 



132 

will kill hiin, not ]>ecause of the severity of 
wound, but by the intensity of the frost. Tht 
are my opinions; grounded on a tolerably dis- 
tinct and accurate knowledge of particular cases^ 
which occurred in the first part of the attack, 
and a variety of information obtained afterwards 
from individual sufferers, who were persons of 
credibility, rescued from death by the humane 
activity of governor Carleton, About 9 o'clock* 
A. M. it was apparent to ail of us, that we must 
surrender. It was done. On this occasion, my 
friend general F. Nichols, by his own native 
spirit, perseverance and determined bravery, ob- 
tained an honorable distinction, and acknow- 
ledgment from a brave and distinguished ^pemy. 
It enhances his merit, and the boon, (when we 
reflect that that enemy was no other than gene- 
ral Carlcton,) an ornament, such as would grace 
any nation, whether in the worst or best of 
times. Some privates came to lieutenant Ni- 
chols, and demanded his sword ; the requisition 
was peremptorily denied, though there was 
great risk in the refusal. He retained his 
sword, till meeting witli captain Endesly of the 
enemy, to whom it was surrendered; but with 
the exaction of a promise that it should be re- 
turned when he, the captive, should be released. 
In the Angust following, before our embarka- 
tion for New- York, captain EK«iesly waited on 
lieutenant Nichols, and in the presence of all 
the American officers, re-delivered <he sword, 
under the assurance, that it was by the permis- 
sion and command of general Ccrjclon. This 
trait in the character of Carletoo, adds to the 
celebrity of bis derivation, .and mann»r of* 'link- 
ing, and casts, mto a dark j^rc «srd. ?be ehiivac- 
ters of most of the principal British oilicers. 



123 

particularly the Scotch, who had much inilii- 
ence in those days, and bore towards us an in- 
temperate hatred. 

The commissioDed officers, and some of the 
cadets, were conducted to the seminary, a res- 
pectable building. It became my lot, in one 
Avay or other, to be lost in tlie crowd, and to be 
associated with the non-commissioned ofScers, 
In the company of some of whom, ardent and 
perilous duties had been undergone. These men 
are by no means to be lessened in character, by 
contrasting them with the levies made in Eu- 
rope, or those made since that time in our own 
country. Many of our sergeants, and even of 
our privates, were, with good educations, sub- 
stantial freeholders in our own country. Upon 
a former occasion, you were told the story of 
the respectable Dixon. He possessed, (if sor- 
did wealth makes the man,) twofold the riches 
of his captain ; and if it be permitted me to de- 
cide upon the characters of men, five-fold hi* 
understanding, activity and spirit. Amiable 
Dixon! Many of these men, in the progress of 
the bloody scenes which ensued, became props 
of our glorious cause, in defence of our sacred 
liberties. All could be named. Let a few suf- 
fice. Thomas Boyd, so often spoken of in the 
wilderness for his good humor, his activity and 
the intensity of his sufferings ; struggled glori- 
ously for his life as a captain, and died a dread- 
ful death by the hands of the savages in 1779, in 
the expedition conducted by general Sullivan 
against the Six-nation indians. ^ Charles Porter- 
field, who lost r.is life in the battle of Camden, 
when in the station of a colonel. Joseph Aston, 

* See Note VIL 



124 

oi* Lamb's, who served, his country throiighoiu 
the war, and was promoted to a majority. Doc- 
tor Thomas Gibson, of Hendricks', who died in 
the performance of his duly, at the Valley Forge, 
in the Avititer of 1778. Robert Cunningham, a 
-Wealthy freeholder of Smith's, who here imbib- 
ed the seeds of that disorder, which, at too early 
an age, hurried him to the grave. He was a 
younger brother of that excellent citizen, and 
frequent representative of the people of the 
county of JLancaster, James Cunningham. In 
short, many others might be mentioned in the 
general, as worthy and well informed as their 
superiors, without, in anywise, imputing to the 
latter, in so saying, the slightest degree of dis- 
paragement. This will always be the case, 
when the great body of a nation rises in its 
strength to defend its rights. Those who un- 
derstand the point in question, in a national dis- 
pute, and are most strongly impressed with its 
importance, will he the first to arm. Tfus has 
been, and ever will be, the dispositions of men in 
all ages past or to come, whenever their privile- 
ges are invaded. Offkes of prime importance, 
cannot be obtained by all. Men of talents, of 
genius and courage must step into subcidinute 
stations. Socrates, Alcibiades and Demos^ 
tlienes, fought in the ranks. . ' 

God in his great goodness grant, in the future 
vicissitudes of the world, that our countrymen, 
whenever their essential rights shall be a( Jack- 
ed, will divest tht^mselves of ail party preJTidii^e, 
and devote their lives and properties in defence 
of the sacred liberties of their country, v.ithout 
any view to emolument, but that which springs 
from glorious and honorable actions. Pardon 
mc for frequent digression, upon this subject 



125 

particularlj, as my whole soul was bound ap irn 
GUI* cause, you must forgive me. The real apolo- 
gy is, we were, all of us, enthusiastic w'higs. 

When under guard, in the morning of the first 
of January, colonel M< Dougal, a Scotch gei^tle- 
iiian, near noon, came to review us : his person 
was known to me at Detroit, as an intimate, of 
an uncle, three years before this time. * The 
colonel was naturally polite and kind-hearted. 
When it came to my turn to be examined, as to 
name, place of birth, &e. besides making the 
proper answers to his inquiries, I was embol- 
dened to declare, that he was known to me. He 
seemed surprised, but not displeased : a request 
was immediately added, "that he would order 
me to be transferred to the quarters of tlie offi- 
cers." " No, my dear boy," said he, " you had 
" better remain where you are ; the officers, as 
«you are in rebellion, may be sent to England, 
« and there be tried for treason." The advice 
of this venerable veteran, made an impression on 
my mind, which was then agitated by a thousand 
vagrant thoughts, and involved in doubt and un- 
certainty as to our destination. We then well 
knew of the voyage of colonel Ethan Allen to 
England, and the manner of it; * and that of 
George Merchant, our fellow soldier, but the 
consequences were unknown.^ It became my de- 
termination to take the fatherly advice of colo- 
nel M*Dougal, for it was really delivered in the 
parental style,, and to adhere to it. He brought 
one of his sons, whom I had formerly known, to 
see me on the following day. About mid-day we 
were escorted to a ruinous monastery of the or- 
der of St. Francis, called the MegiUiers^ It was^ 

* See Note VIII. 

L 2 



126 

an immenso quaijrangulaiv building, containing 
within its interior bounds, half an acre or more, 
of an area^ >\hich seemed to be like a garden or 
shrubbery. The monks, priests or what not, 
"wU,^ln habited the house, must have been few in 
number, as for my part, not more than half a 
dozen of distinct faces, came into my view while 
we staid here. We entered by the ground floor, 
(that is by the cellar,)the building on that side 
being built on the declination of the hill, which 
in this part of the city is very uneven. The 
apartments on our right, as we entered, seemed 
to be filled with governmental stores, and of 
provisions of all kinds. They made us ascend a 
large staircase into an upper story, where we 
were complimented with two sides, or rather a 
part of each of the sides of the quadrangle. The 
whole building would have accommodated four 
thousand men. Monkish spirit must have been 
in high vogue, when so great a pile could be 
erected, merely from the alms of the people, 
and that too, for so egregiously absurd a pur- 
pose. The ranges of the rooms, though exten- 
sive in the length of the galleries, were small in 
their size, being scarcely more than ten by 
twelve or fourteen feet. The galleries were 
about twelve feet wide ; many rooms were com- 
fortable, others were dilapidated. Ten or a do- 
zen of our poor fellows, were compressed intot 
one of these small rooms. So much the better, 
as it served to keep them the warmer. Boyd, 
Cunningham, and a few of our intimates, took 
possession of a room near a large stove. The 
first week, we slept most uncomfortably. Gra^ 
©ious God ! what did we not sulfer. 

It was now that we fully learnt the destinies 
of our dear and revered general, and his compa- 




127 

n» ^th. But allow me before tbe dfetaU 

ory, to give you an anecdote : The 

of Quebec, like those of England and 

iitry, are a spirited and generous sect in 

<;ty : they applied to governor Carleton, and 

^otained leave, (o make us a " new-year's-gift." 

This turned out to be no other than a large butt 

of porter, attended by a proportionate quantity 

of bread and cheese. It was a present which ex- 

hilirated our hearts, and drew from us much 

thankfulness. We shared more than a pint per 

man. 

General Montgomery had marched at the 
precise time stipulated, and had arrived at his 
destined place of attack, nearly about the time 
>ve attacked the first barrier. He was not one 
that would loiter. Colonel Campbell, * of the 
New-York troops, a large, good-looking man, 
who was second in command of that party, and 
was deemed a veteran, accompanied the army to 
the assault; his station was rearward, general 
Montgomery, with his aids, were at the point 
of til e column. 

It is impossible to give you a fair and complete 
idea, of the nature and situation, of the place 
solely witli the pen — the pencil is required. As by 
the special permission of goverment, obtained by 
the good offices of captain Prentis, in the sum- 
mer following ; Boyd, a few others and myself, 
reviewed the causes of our disaster ; it is there- 
fore in my power, so far as my abilities will 
permit, to give you, a tolerable notion of the 
spot. Cape Diamond, nearly resembles tlic 

* This was not my friend Col. Thomas Campbell of 
York, (Penn.) He was fighting the battles of our coun- 
try at Boston* 



128 

great juttint^ rock, wliicb is in the narrows^;a([ 
Hunter's fulls, on the Susquehanna. Tho rot >, 
at the latter place, shoots out as steeply as that 
at (Quebec, but by no mean forms so great an 
angle, on the margin of the river ; but is more 
craggy. There is a stronger and more obvious 
diiferenee in the comparison. When you sur- 
mount the hill at St. Charles, or the St. Law- 
rence side, which, to the eye are equally high, 
and steep, you tind on Abraham's Plains, and 
upon an extensive champaign country. They, 
birds-eye view around Quebec, bears a striking 
conformity to the scites of Northumberland and 
Pittsburg, in Pennsylvania; but the former is on 
a more gigantic scale, and each of the latter 
"want the steepness and craggyness of the back 
ground, and a depth of rivers. This detail, is 
to instruct you in the geographical situation of 
Quebec, and for the sole purpose of ex])laining 
the manner of general Montgomery's death, and 
the reasons of our failure. From AVolf's cove,, 
there is a good beach, down to, and aronnd 
<* Cape Diamond." The bulwarks of tlie city, 
came to tiie a^i^e of the hill, above that place. 
Thence down the side of the precipice, slanting- 
ly to the brink of the river, there was a stock- 
ade of strong posts, iifuen or twenty feet high, 
knit together by a stout railing, at bottom and 
top with pins. This was no mean defence, and 
was at the distance of one hundred yards, from 
the point of the rock. Within this palisade, 
and at a few yards from the very point itself, 
there was a like palisade, though it did not luii 
so high up the hill. Again, within Cape Diamond, 
and probably at a distance of fifty yards, there 
stood a bl'H'k house, which seemed to take up the 
space, between the foot of the hill; and the prc=^ 



129 

(ih \ir i)ank of the river, leaving a cart way, 
cr ", on each side of it. When heighths 

^s are spoken of, you must recol- 
-iie description of Cape Diamond and 
.ity, is merely that of the eye, made as 
.re running, under the inspection of an offi- 
.•cr. The review of the ground, our army had 
acted upon, was accorded us, as a particular 
favor. Even to have stepped the spaces in a 
formal manner, would have been dishonorable, 
if not a species of treason. A block-house, 
if well constructed, is an admirable method of 
defence, which in the process of the war, to 
our cost, was fully experienced. In the instance 
now before us, (though the house was not built 
upon the most approved principles,) yet it was a 
formidable object. It was a square of perhaps 
forty or fifty feet. The large logs neatly squar- 
ed, were tightly hound together, by dove-tail 
work. If not much mistaken, the lower story 
contained loop-holes for musketry, so narrow, 
that those within, eould not be harmed from 
without. The upper story, had four or more 
port holes, for cannon of a large calibre. These 
guns were charged with grape or cannister shot, 
and were pointed with exactness towards the 
avenue, at Cape Diamond. The hero Montgo- 
mery came. The drowsy or drunken guards 
did not hear the sawing of the posts of the iirst 
palisade. Here, it* not very erroneous, four posts 
were sawed and thrown aside, so as to aamit 
four men abreast. The column entered with a 
manly fortitude. Montgomery, accompanied by 
liis aids, M^Pherson and Cheeseman, advanced 
in tVont. Arriving at the second palisade, the 
gi'neral. with his own hands, sawed down two 
of the pickets, in such a manner, as to admit 



130 

Iwo men abreast. These sawed pickets, were 
close under the hill, and but a few yards from 
the very point of the rock, out of the view and 
lire of the eneujy, from the block-house. Until 
our troops advanced to the point, no harm couk! 
ensue, but by stones thrown from above. Even 
now, there had been but an imperfect discovery 
of the advancing of an enemy, and tlmt only by 
the intoxicated guard. The guard fled, the gen- 
eral advanced a few paces. A drunken sailor 
returned to liis gun, swearing he would not 
forsake it while undischarged. This fact is re- 
lated from the testimony of the guard on the 
morning of our capture, some of those sail- 
ors being our guard. . Applying the match, this 
single dischare, deprived us of our excellent 
commander.* 

Examining the spot, the officer who escorted 
u^ professing to be one of those, who first came 
to the place, after the death of the general, 
showed tlie position in which the general's body 
was found. It lay two paces from the brink of 
the river, on the back, the arms extended — 
Cheescman lay on the left, and M'Pherson on 
the right, in a triangular position. Two other 
brave laen lay near them. The ground above 
described, was visited by an inquisitive eye, so 
that you may rely with some implicitness, on 
the trurh of the picture. As all danger from 
without had vanished, the government had not 
only permitted the mutilated palisades to re- 
main, without renewing the enclosure, but the 
very sticks, sawed by the hand of our comman- 
der, still ia^v, strewed about the spot. 

Colonel CamplK-ll, appalled by the death of 
the general, retreated a little way from Cape- 

* See Note IX. 



r i of the reach of the cannon of the 

> and pretendcdly eiilled a eoutjcil 

^ who, it was said, justified his reced- 

X the attack. If rushing on, as military 

equired, and a brave masi would have 

, the block-house might have been occupied 

a small number, and was unassailable from 

without, but by cannon. From the block-house 

to the centre of the lower town, where we 

were, there was no obstacle to impede a force 

so powerful, as that under colonel Campbell. 

Cow^ardice, or a want of good will towards 
our cause, left us to our miserable fate. A 
junction, though we might not conquer the for- 
tress, would enahle us to make an honorable 
retreat, though with the loss of many valuable 
lives. Campbell, who was ever after consider- 
ed us a poltroon in grain, retreated, leaving the 
bodies of the general, M«Pherson and Cheese- 
man, to be devoured by the dogs. The disgust 
caused among us, as to Campbell, was so great 
as to create the unchristian wish, that he might 
be hanged. In that desultory period, though he 
was tried, he was acquitted ; that was also the 
case of colonel Enos, who deserted us on the 
Kennebec. There never were two men more 
worthy of punishment of the most exemplary 
kind. 

On the third or fourth of January, being as 
it were domesticated in the sergeant's mess, in 
the reguUcrSf a file of men headed by an officer, 
called to conduct me to the seminary. Adher- 
ing to the advice of colonel M^Dougal, the in- 
vitation was declined, though the hero Morgan, 
had solicited this grace from governor Carte- 
ton, and had sent me a kind and pressing mes- 
sage. My reJiH'ins, which were ex-^duiiied to 
Morgan, in addition to the one already given, 



132 

operated forcibly on m\ mind. Having lost 
all my clothes in the wilderness, except those 
on my back: and those acquired by the pro- 
vident and gratuitous spirit of general Mont- 
gomery, having remained at our quarters, and 
become a prey to the women and invalids 
of the army: nothing remained fitting me to 
appear in company anywhere. Additionally, 
it had become a resolution, when leaving Liin- 
caster, as my absence would go near to break 
the hearts of my parents, never to break upon 
my worthy father's purse. Dire necessity com- 
pelled me to rescind this resolution in part, in the 
>vilderness, but that circumstance, made me 
the more determined to adhere to the resolve 
afterwards. Again, my intimate friends were 
not in the seminary. Steele was in the hospi- 
tal, and Simpson, by previous command on the 
charming Isle of Orleans, which, from its fruit- 
fulness had become, as it were, our store-house.* 
Add to all these reasons; it could not be said 
of the gentlemen in the seminary " they are 
my intimates," except as to captain Morgan, 
and lieutenant F. Nichols of Hendrick's. Be- 
sides ray leather small-clothes, all in fritters, 
had been cast away, and a savage eoveri:r)g 
adopted, until more auspicious times came. But 
even now, an idea of escape and ve^jgeance in- 
flamed the breasts of many, and we were here 
in a much superior situation for such a purpose, 
than that of the seminary. More of this here- 
after. All these facts and circumstances, in- 
duced an evasion of the friendly solicitation of 
the kind-hearted Morgan. 

On the third day of our capture, the generous 
Carleton despatched a flag to Arnold, to obtain 

* See Note X. 



133 

wkat trifling baggage we had left at eup qiiar- 
fersj mine was either forgottei, or uiiserable as 
It was, had been plundered; but as good luek 
would have it, the knapsack of of one Alexan- 
der Nelson of our company, wht) was killed whea 
running to the first barrier, was disclaimed by 
all of our men. Your father in consequence^ 
laid violent hands upon the spoil. It furnished 
Boyd and myself, with a large, but coarse blue 
blanket, called a " stroud," and a drummer'g 
regimental coat. The blanket bt'came a real 
comfort, the coat an article of barter. - It was 
en this day, that my heart was ready to burst 
with grief, at viewing the funeral of our belov- 
ed general. Carleton had, in our former wars 
with the French, been the friend and fellow- 
soldier of Montgomery. Thouych political opin- 
ion, perhaps ambition or interest, had thrown 
these worthies, on different sides of the great 
question, yet the former, could not but honor 
the remains of his quondam friend. About noouy 
the procession passed our quarters. It was most 
solemn. The coffin covered with a pall, sur- 
mounted by transverse swords — was borne by 
men. The regular troops, particularly that 
fine body of men, the seventh regiment, with 
reversed arms, and scarfs on the left elbow, ac- 
companied the corpse to the grave. The funerals 
of the other officers, both friends and eneriji('s, 
were performed this day. From many of us, 
it drew tears of affection for the defunct, and 
speaking for myself, tears of greeting and (ha>!k- 
fulness, towards general Carleton. The soldie- 
ry and inhabitants, appeared affected by the 
loss of this invaluable man, though he was tiseir 
enemy. If such men as Wiishingiou, Cavl? (on 
and Montgomery, had had the entire directiim 
M 



134 

of Ike adverse war, the contentioB, in the event, 
might have happily tefwiinated to the advantage 
of both sections of the natitwi. M*Pherson, 
Cheoscman, Hendricks, Humphreys, were all 
dig'nified by the maimer ©f biii-ial. 

On the same> or the following day, we were 
compelled, (if we would look,) to a more dis- 
gtisting and torturing sigltt. Many carioles, 
repeatedly one after the otliter, passed our dwel- 
ling loaded with the dead, wliether of the assail- 
ants or of the garrison, to a place, eniphatieallyj 
called the <« dead-house." Here the bodies were 
heaped in monstrous piles. The horror of the 
sight, to us southern men, principally consisted 
in seeing our companions borne to interment^ 
uncoffraed, and in the very clothes they had worn 
in battle ; their limbs distt^rted in various direc- 
tions, such as would ensue in the moment of 
death. Many of our ft^iends and acquaintances 
were apparent. Poor Nelson lay on the top of 
half a dozen other bodies — ^his arms extended 
beyond his head, as if in the act of prayer, and 
<me knee crooked and raised, seemingly, when 
he last gasped in the agonies of death. Curse 
on these civil wars which extinguish the socia- 
Mlities of mankind, and annihilate the strength 
of nations. A flood of tears was consequent. 
Though Montgomery was beloved, because of 
his manliness of soul, heioic bravery and suavi- 
ty of manners ; Hendricks and Humphreys, for 
rthe same admirable qualities, and especially for 
the endurances we underwent in conjunction, 
which enforced many a tear: still my unhappy 
aiid lost brethren, though in humble station, 
-with whom that dreadful wild was penetrated, 
and from whom came many attentions towards 
me, forced melancholy sensations. From what 



135 

IS said relative to the ^* Dead-house/' youmighl 
conclude that general Carleton was inhumane oi' 
hard-hearted. No such thing. In tiiis northern 
latitude, at this season of the year, according to 
my feelings, (we had no thermometer,) the wea- 
ther was so cold, as usually to he many degrees 
helow o. A wound, if mortal, or even other- 
wise, casts the party wounded into the snow ; if 
death should follow, it throws the sufferer into 
various attitudes, which are assumed in the ex- 
treme pain accompanying death. The moment 
death takes place, the frost fixes the limhs in 
whatever situation they may then happen to be, 
and which cannot he reduced to decent order, 
until they are thawed. In this state, the bodies 
of the slain arc deposited in the "dead-house,'* 
hard as ice. At this season of the year, the 
earth is frozen from two to five feet deep, im- 
penetrable to the best pick-axe, in the hands of 
the stoutest man. Hence you may perceive a 
justification of the << dead-house." It is no 
new observation, " that climates form the man* 
" ners and habitudes of the people." 

On the next day, (January 4th,) we were vis- 
ited by colonel Maclean, an old man, attended 
by other officers, for a peculiar purpose, that is, 
to ascertain who among us were born in Europe. 
We had many Irishmen, and some Englishmen. 
The question was put to each ; those who ad- 
mitted a British birth, were told they must 
serve his majesty in colonel Maclean's regi- 
ment, a new corps, called the "emigrants/* 
Our poor fellows, under the fearful penalty of 
being carried to Britain, there to be tried for 
treason, were compelled by necessity, and many 
of them did enlist. Two of them, very brave 
men, Edward Cavenaugh and Timothy Conneri 



136 

deserve to Ije warned, because of a pai'UeuIar oc- 
currence which !iappened shortly afterwards : 
These two men, among others, called upon me 
for my advice how to act. Being, at that time^ 
neither a lawyer nor a casuist, they had my opi- 
aion according to the dictates of nature, and 
some slight reading. That is, that they should 
enlist, for a constrained oath, as theirs would 
be, could not be binding on the conscience : and 
by all means to join our army as soon as practi- 
cable. They enlisted under the notion, that 
the oath was non- obligatory, and a hope of a 
speedy return to their sweet-hearts and wives. 
Allow me here to recount, by anticipation, 
the residue of the adventures of "honest Ned." 
It is due to him, for he saved my life, and 
that of Simpson, on the "Dead river." To- 
wards the end of January, Cavenaugh and Con- 
ner, happened to compose a part of the same 
guard at Palace-gate, where the walls are from 
thirty to forty feet high, independently of the 
declivity of the hill. Cavenaugh was stationed 
as a sentry in conjunction with one of the Bri- 
tish party. Conner had procured a bottle of 
rum ; coming to the station, he drank himself, 
and presented the bottle to the British sentry. 
AVhile the latter was in the act of drinking, Ca- 
venaugh gave him a push with the butt of his 
musket, which stunned and brought him to the 
earth. Taking his arms, they sprung over the 
wall into abed of snow, perhaps twenty five feet 
deep. This averment conoerning the depth of 
the snow, may appear problematical, as we know 
nothing like it in our climate. Form no defini- 
tive opinion until you have heard the reasons 
why it does happen. As you may recollect 




several instances in this memoir, where the as 
j^rity of a Quebec >vinter is intimated, and & 
description of its effects attempted — such as fre- 
quent snow-storms and fierce winds. In the 
month of January, particularly, Avhen the snow 
has increased to a depth of seven feet over the 
face of the country, notwithstanding the shinin,&; 
of the sun, the cold is so great, that those winds 
drive the snow daily, against the higli ramparts 
of the city, where it forms a compact mass — the 
last stratum being light and dry, as the finest 
sand, which may be whirled by the wind. Cave- 
naugh and Conner leaped .mid-deep into such a 
soft bed. Their disadvantage consisted in sink- 
ing too deep ^ the heighth of the leap, plunging 
them deeper than ordinary walking would do, 
made it difficult for them to extricate themselves* 
The relief-guainl eame in time to give them a 
volley,, as they were scampering away. Thanks 
to God, my worthy Irishmen escaped unharmed, 
though as they passed through St. Roque, they 
^vere complimented by several discharges of 
cannister and grape-shot. This was the first 
notice we had of the escape of our^daring friends. 
We heard next morning, all the minutiae from 
those who guarded us* CaVenar.gh is still alive— 
is laborious, and has a large fttmily of children, 
who are respectable in their way.^ You cannot 
conceive the joyousoess of my heart, when hear-^ 
ing of him, in my i>eregri nations a few years 
since, in the mountainous parts of York eounty. 
The pittance then spared him, it is hoped wi!i 
make you never the poorer.^ The ^assembly 
of Pennsylvania have granted him. a pension,<j 
for which that honorable body have ray most 
fervent blessings. Old age and decrepitude, by 
Mie extremity of our sufferings, is brought upoii 
M2. 



^ 138 

liS, long before the ardinary allotments of na* 
tuve. We served our country faithfully, and at 
this late day, it is really pleasant to observe the 
spirit of the public, inclined to eoinpensate the 
veterans of 1775 and 1776. §o much for my 
preserver « Honest Ned,'^ which epithet he still 
bears among his neighbors, by whom, bating a 
venial vice, he is este^jmed, Timothy Conner, on 
the contrary, possessing the art of acquiring 
wealth, married, had a competency, but lost it 
subsequently by his vices, which bore a strong 
affinity to gross criminality. 

By the middle of January, we were settled 
down into a state something like household or- 
der : those who could economise, fared tolerably 
well, though they could have used mere. Our 
daily provision consisted of a biscuit made of a 
coarse meal, from sonn^thing like our chopped 
rye; very often chaff or straw, half an inch in 
length, was found in this species of bread. A 
biscuit of the size of a cake of gingerbread, 
now sold with us for a cent, was the daily allow- 
ance of this article : lialf a pound of pork, or 
three quarters of a pound of beef, though these 
were much salted, even so as to be uncomforta- 
|)le — ^they were of Irish preparation, perhaps fbf 
the sea-service : a competent allowance of butteri 
originally fine, yet now rancid; candles, mola»^ 
ses, and even vinegar : — this last article, so long 
as it could be afforded us, was a preservative 
from the disorders which unwittingly wc were 
imbibing daily. Knowing the difficulties under 
which the garrison lay — foes at the gates, and 
an uncertainty of succour,* the governor wan 
thought of by me, with similar allowances, that 
ouglit to be made to our own generals, in cir- 
<$umstanc^ of such pinching nec^^fiity. From 



139 

all iiiforDiation attainable on our part^ we were 
S8 well treated as those of the garrison, who 
lived on the same kinds of food, except as to 
liquor, which deprivation was more beneficial 
than injurious to our men. It is grateful to my 
heart, now to remember and repeat, the benevo- 
lent sensations this mildness and humanity ere- 
ated in my mind, towards the virtuous, the amia- 
ble and venerable Carleton. He was a genuine 
representative of the gentility of the Irish nation, 
which is so deservedly famous for the produc- 
tion of real heroes, patriotic statesmen, and a 
generosity and suavity of manners. He was of 
great candour, uprightness and honor, and full 
of the spirit of philanthropy, which marks the 
real gentleman. He made us several visits, in 
all of which he seemed, merely to have a solicit 
tude for our welfare, without any sinister view, 
such as a seduction from our principles, &c. 
That he granted us every accommodation, his 
trying situation authorized, there can be no 
doubt. Shortly after the time now spoken of, 
we were conducted to the Dauphin jail. Before 
we quit the reguliers, admit me to state to you 
semething more, relating to our manner of liv- 
ing there. My youthful appetite required and 
demanded a greater quantity of food than we 
then enjoyed. We wanted spoons, not only in 
our own mess, but throughout the whole corps. 
There was no money among us to purchase such 
an implement, and if there had been, and oppor^ 
tunity had ottered, it is likely the jealousy of go- 
vernment, would have deprived us of them, if 
formed of metal of any kind. 

One day being at the unloading a cord of 
wood, a birch stick, the only piece of hard wood 
in the load, was eagerly laid hold of. and, Jborae 



140 

to the mess-room ; from this, a wooden spoon 
Avas A M>n formed for my own use. Lobscouse 
made a part of our diurnal food. This term, 
though vulgar, conveys to one, who, when hun- 
gry, has tasted the dish, some agreeable ideas. 
Among soldiers and sailors it is esteemed equal 
to the <^olla podrida" of the Spaniards, and 
nearly so to the <» speck and oyer" of the Ger- 
mans ; it is certainly more nourishing than what 
the latter call *•' water soup," and even " meal 
soup'\ We put our vile biscuit into a tin vessel, 
with a sufficient quantity of water, and permit- 
cd it to stew on the stove, until there was a per- 
fect mucilage, some thin slices of bacon fat, (the 
reserve of the last meal,) were then added ; or 
some of the skimmings of the boilers, but most 
usually, the rancid butter, (which Avasthus made 
palatable :) when these substances were well in- 
corporated with the biscuit ; a few spoon-fulls of 
molasses finished the dish. This was the ordi- 
nary breakfast, and a good one, when we could 
spoon it into our mouths. My spoon therefore, 
was an article in great demand, and of prime 
necessity. The production of one spoon, creat- 
ed a desire for more ; they were manufactured 
in abundance, by the means of two knives — a 
great and a small^ but always disposed of for 
biscuit. Spoons were made as large as small 
ladles, some with a deer at full stretch, a hound 
pursuing — an Indian sitting — a beaver — and 
twenty other devices were invented, and tolerably 
well carved. Some came to five biscuits, some 
to ten, and one in particular at twenty, which 
my friends, thought worthy of the acceptance of 
the governor, Lut care was taken not to present 
it. Boyd and Cunningham carefully furnished 
the wood^ Thus w«5 could exist pretty well on 



141 

our slender diet. But we had other resources, 
which were hy no means neglected, Henry 
Crone, a well bred young man, descended from 
a worthy and respectable family of York county, 
Pennsylvania, much my senior, but who was 
known to me during his apprenticeship at Lan- 
caster, had dissipated a good fortune at the gam- 
ing-tables^ he was a sergeant of Hendricks', 
Miserable as was our predicament, the demon 
of play had intruded itself among us, though 
there was neither money nor clothing, but that 
upon our backs, and our daily provisions to sport 
with. The play was for biscuit, and most usu- 
ally at a game called " all-fours," in which Crone 
vfiLS a real adept. He was a droll dog, and 
much inclined to play with and beat the Yan- 
kees, as he termed them. Many mornings, be- 
ing compelled by the inclemency of the season,, 
to leave our uncomfortable bed, pacing the ave- 
nues in front of our cells for exercise and 
warmth, drawing aside the curtain of the gamb- 
ling room door, which was no other tlian a 
thread-bare blanket. Crone was seen and heardy 
with bleared eyes and a vociferous voice, after 
a night^s sitting, co^i tending for a biscuit, with 
as much spirit and lieat, as most probably he 
had done in former times for fifty or a hundred 
dollars. The passion of gaming, is almost an in- 
explicable trait in the human character, the 
poor, the rich, the. savage and the civilized, are 
equally its devotees. The greatest and the 
least are alike subject to its fascinations. Crone, 
poor dog, was one of the devoted. 

Montgomery, in his care for Arnold's party, 
besides an excellent blanket coat, had assigned 
to each man a new red regimental coat of the 
seventh, or some other regiment, stationed in 



142 

the upper country. This clothing had been 
seized at Montreal. Crone, in the divison, had 
fared weJL He had obtained a large superfine 
hroad-cloth coat, such as is worn by the serge- 
ant-major of the British army, which ^< fitted 
him like a shirt." He was so totally devoid of 
care, that he never once applied to the taylors 
of the army, who were employed by the public, 
to fit the coat to his back, and to sew it regu- 
larly. What was still more laughable, he had 
no pockets to this coat, unless you may call the 
flannel such, which interiorly lined the lap- 
pets, and bore the appearance of large bags 
dangling about his heels. Crone was facetious 
and clever ; he had an affection for me. Often 
about daylight he would come to my blanket 
and waken me, and shake the lappets of hi» 
eoat. He would say "Damme Jack, here\s 
some thing for you," and would force upon me, 
ten, fifteen, and several times, even thirty bis- 
euits. With all his vices he bore a great share 
of my esteem, for the goodness of his. heart. 
W hen ill luck occurred, there was a refunding 
on my part, but it seldom happened. Our other 
resource was William M<Coy, a sergeant of 
Hendricks', an excellent clerk, who came into 
favor of the Governor, by giving to major Mur- 
ray of the garrison, a genuine copy of his journ- 
al of the route, through the wilderness into Ca- 
nada. He was a sedate and sensible man. He 
was installed « clerk of the kitchen," and put 
znemuch in mind of Gil Bias' clerk. The cook, 
whom M*Coy patronized, was a very Boniface 
in accomplishments and a Sancho Fanza in ro- 
tundity. He was of Thayer's or Dearborne's 
company. Believe me, that these two men, were 
oourted by our hungry wights among the soldie- 



14S 

ry^ wiUi as much eagerness and solicitude^ and 
dften sycopbaney, as wauld have becu tlie case 
had they been the ministers of a great state. 
What couhl you suppose to he the object of such 
«ervility ? To exphiin.— The boiling utensils, were 
two very large coppers. A boiling of pork, pro- 
duced a great quantity of liquiil fat, wJiich the 
Bien called slush. The skimmings constituted 
the importance of the cook, who made a profit 
from it, by selling it to certain tradesmen of 
the city. A half pint of this slush, was a good 
su<jcedaneum tor better food, to a mess of six 
stout men. ft, with the molasses, formed an 
excellent lobscouse. OJeaginous matter, next 
to bread, is however, the great support of the 
animal functions, and even superior to bread, 
to sustain life, and gratify the palate. Her^ 
you see thereat ground of the causes of distinc- 
tions in society. The cook gossessing this per- 
quisite, commanded his applicants for ad<lition- 
al food, with an unw-arrantable austerity. As 
to our mess, it was strong in habits of intimacy 
with M^Coy, who was one of us. The cook 
was far below our notice. Friend M<Goy, gave 
us every advantage, our melancholy situation 
aiforded him. This minute informati^ is given 
to you, to inspire ymi with a disgu^ towards 
war of any kind. As to my sons, if the liber- 
ties of our country ever be invaded, it is hnm'« 
bly hoped, under the protecting hand of Provi* 
dence, that they will always be ready and ac- 
tive, to rally round the staBdard of Freedom, 
the principles of which, we derived from our 
forefathers, whose blood freely flowed in il^ 
defence. 

Coming to the Dauphin jail, escorted by the 
aiilitarv, we found it well aceojnraodated for 



144 

©ur lodgment. There >vere four rooms below, 
end as many abovt* siairs, all ca^iacious and well 
supplied with hirilis or bulks, in the common 
method of barratks. Our company taking the 
right, our precedency in the procession gave 
us, assumed the possession of a room, in the 
third story, which was in truth the very best; 
Morgan's, took a room immediately below us; 
Ht-ndriok's one adjoining: but remember, that 
at this time, we were reduced mosi lumcntubly 
by killed, wounded and missing. Many were in 
the hospital. Out of sixty-tive, who came on 
Abialiam's Plains, in November, we had scarce- 
ly nmre than thirty, lefj with us in prison. 
The fire of the enemy and disease had so Itiin- 
ned us, Morgan's gallant men fared worse. 
Like the eastern people before, and at that pe- 
riod, they detested the inteoduction of the small- 
pox into their coun|ry, by inoculation. Now they 
were its victims. Less than twenty-five of the 
privates of that company, regained their native 
homes. They were originally, as elegant a body 
of men, as ever came within my view.* To use 
the style of my friend Simpson, *« they were 
«< beautiful boys*, who knew how to handle, and 
<* aim th^rifle." Indeed many of them, adroit 
.young men, courageous and thorough going, be- 
came the subjects of death, by that virulent dis- 
ease, both without and within the cit^. We, 
of Pennsylvania, had no fears feom that source. 
This disease had visited us in youth, either na- 
turally or by innoculation. Tfris observation, 
which is a serious one, should convey to jour 
minds, the immens^ity of the discovery of the in- 
noeulation of the kine pock, b.y doctor Jenner* 
The discovery of tlie causes of light niug, its 
dreadful elFects, the means of avoiding its power, 
* See Note XI. 



145 

l>y the celebrated Franklin, our countryman, 
is, (as it concerns the happiness of man, speak- 
ing diffidently,) perhaps inferior in importance 
to that of Jenner. The Jennerian discovery, 
tends to save the lives of millions, the Frank- 
liaian of hundreds. But all lovers of natural 
philosophy, are compellable to acknowledge, 
that the identity of the electric iluid, obtai.ied 
artificially, with that of the clouds, has given 
a wider scope to human thought, than the re- 
cency of the Jennerian discovery, has as yet, 
afforded. There can be little doubt, that in a 
succession of years, some giganiic geniuses of 
the medical profession, will improve and extend 
the benefits of the happy disclosure. 

At the Dauphin jail, our notions of escape 
were strengthened. The prison may be 300 
yards from St. John's gate, the interval at that 
time, was free from buildings. From without 
the building appeared formidable. The court- 
yard, was very contracted for so large a house, 
and was encompassed by a strong stone wall, at 
least twenty feet high. The windows and doors, 
were seemingly, by their bars impenetrable. 
But Avhat cannot mesi of true spirit effect, when 
made the subje^^ts of oppression. Opposite to 
the jail, across the street leading to St. John's 
gate, at a distance of forty yards, there stood 
a house, which became the station of the guard, 
who superintended us. In the first of our im- 
prisonment, we were attended by the regular 
troops, or sailors, who were embodied by go- 
vernment as soldiers, but now, the guard (as 
our force without had made a firm stand,) was 
replaced by the militia, who were the most in- 
ert and despicable of military men. The sen- 
tries were stationed on the outside of tfee jaij?— 



146 

we \\vn\ no >vitncsses of our conduct within, ex- 
cept the captain of the provost, who did not pry 
with a suspicious eye. He was a generous and 
open-hearted enemy — had no guile himself, nor 
imputed it to others. The principal defence on 
this side of the city, as it regarded our attempt 
at evasion, lay at and near St. John's gate. The 
guard here was most usually composed of thirty 
men, of the regular troops or sailors. They 
would have given us a hustle, but of a certain- 
ty, we should have overpowered them, by the 
force of numbers, as stout and as able bodied 
men as themselves, whose courage was not to 
be questioned, though there was a great diiTer- 
ence in the nature of our respective arms. Hav- 
ing examined the jail carefully, its imbecility 
to restrain u?, was apparent. It was an old 
French building in the Bastile style. The walls^ 
of stone, and more than three feet thick ; were 
impenetrable by any of our means. Upon ex- 
amining the bars of the windows, which were 
originally ill- constructed, many were found so 
much corroded, as to move up and down in the 
sockets. These could be taken out. The mild- 
ness of Governor Carleton's reign, seemed not 
to require a striit inspection into places of this 
kind. About this time, a selectee! council was 
called, of which your father had the honor to 
be one, and was chielly eoniposed of the serge- 
ants. The present major Joseph Aston, of 
JL«iuub's artillerists, then a sergeant-major, had 
the presidency. Our discoveries were disclosed 
« — the means of escape considi'red, and a con- 
sultation of the men recommended. This was 
done, and there was not a dissentient voice. At 
the stair head, there was a suifill room, lighted 
by a small yviudow ', the door was locked. — Peep 



I 



sng through the keyhole, large iron hoops wei*e' 
discovered: the spring of the lock, kindly gave 
Way to our efforts, the room was ransacked ; 
and as neatly closed. The room furnished us 
with a large nuinher of strong iron-hoops, two 
and three inches broad, and a considerable quan- 
tity of other iron, of different shapes and sizes, 
deposited there as lumber. From the first of 
these articles, we formed a rough, but weighty 
species of sword, with a wooden handle, a blow 
from which, in the hands of one of our stout 
men, would have brought down one of the stout- 
est of the enemy. The residue of the iron, was- 
applied to the formation of spear-heads. These 
were affixed to splits of fir-plank, about ten feet 
in length, which liad formed in part, the bot- 
toms of (he lower births. These weapons, it is 
true, were of the coarsest make, yet in the 
hands of men, determined to sacrifice their lives 
for free<lom, they would have had a consider- 
able sway. Our long knives, which many of 
MS secreted when captured, also became spear- 
points. These weapons were concealed under 
the lower range of births, which were raised a 
foot from the floor. The planks were neatly 
raised, the nails were extracted, and the nail- 
head, with a part of its shank, placed in its 
former position. Over these lay our blankets, 
and bundles. It was a standing rule, to have 
two sentries, constantly on the watch, one at 
each end of the interior of the jail. Their duty 
consisted in giving a signal of the approach of 
the officers of the garrison, who were in the 
habit of visiting us daily, as there were shoe- 
makers and taylors among us, who worked 
cheaper than tliose of the city, merely for the 
purpose of bettering their condition. There 



148 

^v as policy in this watchfulness. When the sig- 
nal was given, the inner doors Mere thrown 
open, those appointed for the purpose, laid 
upon the birth which hid our arms, as if in a 
drowsy state. Tlie officers were accosted with 
assumed confidence, and much complaisance. 
The council met daily, sometimes in small 
squads, and when any thing of much conse- 
quence was to be considered, in larger; but at 
all times secretly, or at least not obviously as 
a council, from a fear of traitors, or some in- 
discretion of the young men. Our arrangements, 
so far as my judgment could discern, were ju- 
dicious. Aston was to act as general, M<Coy 
and some others became colonels. Boyd and 
others of the most spirit, became majors, cap- 
tains, lieutenants, &c. That which cheered me 
much, was that the council assigned me, a first 
lieutenancy under my friend Boyd, whoso vigor 
and courage were unquestionable. 

The plan of the escape was thus : Aston who 
was an excellent engineer, was to have the 
particular superintendency of Lamb's company, 
which to a man w as well informed in their duty, 
active and spirited. These were to be increased 
to a band of one hundred and fifty men, whose 
duty it was to attack the guard at St. John's 
gate. The attack of the guard opposite the 
jail, was assigned to the discretion of Boyd, 
Cunningham and myself; the council generous- 
ly, giving us the authority of a first selection of 
twenty two persons, from the whole body of our 
men. The residue of our force, was so disposed 
of, as to act as a body of reserve to Aston, un- 
der the command of M*Coy, and another smal- 
ler body was reserved to support Boyd, particu- 
larly by way of setting fire to the jail, the guard- 




149 

house, and the buildings in its neighborhood, to 
amuse or employ the enemy, while we were run- 
ning to St. John's gate. It was expected we 
could arrive there,^ by the time Aston and his 
party would be victorious. Our j>articular duty 
was of the desperate kind, samething of the na- 
ture of the *<^ forlorn-hope." Nothing but the 
virtue and bravery of our comrades, could en- 
sure the safety of our lives ; for if they should 
arrive at St. John's gate, and discomfit the 
guard ; and if then seeking safety by flight, they 
would leave us to the mercy of an enraged ene- 
my, who would sacrifice us to their fury* But 
there has been too much precipitation in the re- 
Iation» Previously to the last observations, be- 
sides being told of our force, our weapons, and 
our military plans^ you should have been inform- 
ed also,^ of the real site of the jail — -of its in- 
ternal structure, from which the sally was to be 
made. The Dauphin jail is built on a plain, 
pretty much declined towards the street. It fol- 
lows, that the front of the lower story, that is 
the cellars, was on a level with the street. The 
back-ground was ten or twelve feet higher. In 
the cellar, near the foot of the stairway, there 
was a plenteous fountain of water, which suppli- 
ed the house. The conduits leading from the 
vspring, by the severity of the weather, were im- 
peded by ice, so that the water, in great quan- 
tity remained in the cellar, which, with the addi- 
tional carelessness of our people, who cast the 
rinsing of their buckets, on the floor of the 
apartment, formed a bed of ice a foot thick, 
und very firm and solid. This cellar had a 
door newly made, of strong pine plank, five feet 
in width, which opened inwards — the sill was 
level with the street. The door was hung upon 
E 2- 



150 

H. hinges of a large size, fixed on the inside^ 
exposed to our view and operations. But what 
was still more absurd, the door was hasped 
-within, and secured by a large pad-lock. Close 
inspection, and thoughtful ness, had made the 
members of the council, by the means they en- 
joyed, perfect masters of tliose hinges and the 
lock; they would not have stood a second of 
time. The principle obstacle was the ice, 
which was raised fully a foot against the door- 
Even this would have given way to our ingenui- 
ty. The whole of our plan was well laid, and 
thoroughly digested. That door was to be our 
sally-port. Boyd preceding with our division — 
Aston and M'Coy following, they turning rapid- 
ly to the left for St. John's gate. The disloca- 
tion of the iron bars of the windows, was to en- 
sue : all those which could be removed, being 
known, were to become issues for our bravest 
men. Every man knew his station. It is an 
old and a trite observation, that it is a difficult 
thing to describe a battle, so as to give a clear 
idea of all the causes and effects of each move- 
ment, without overloading and confusing the pic- 
ture. The same may be said of a conspiracy 
such as ours. Going through the entry from 
the front door into the jail-yard, near the back 
door, but still within the prison, there are two 
cavities opposite to each other, str^^ngly walled 
and arched. We called them the black holes. 
On the outside of the building, in the yard, 
those cavities assumed the forms of banks, ten 
or eleven feet high, and as wide ; and well sod- 
ded. "With some address and agility, a sprightly 
man could surpass either of them. The wall 
libove those banks was, probably ten feet higher. 
In the daytime we often climbed up the wall,. 




151 

by means of its interstices, from which the mor- 
tjtr had fallen in the course of time, to take a 
peep at the city, merely putting our eyes above 
the level of the top of it. 

A Mr, Martin, a hardy, daring and active 
young man, of Lamb's company, 1 think a ser- 
geant, proposed to bear intelligence of our pro- 
jects, to the American commander, without the 
walls. His plan was approved. A time for ir- 
ruption was named^ though tlie day was not par- 
ticularised. The signals to invite the advance 
of our army to St. John's gate, were the burning 
of the houses, and the firing of the guns of the 
ramparts towards the city. As yet, we were un- 
jirepared to move. This expedition of Martin's 
was profoundly a secret among those of the 
council, from a fear that some bungler might 
attempt the same path, fiiil, and by his being 
taken, unveil our plots. Permit me a short epi- 
sode on the escape of Martin. It was singularly 
adventurous, and the neatness of its execution, 
renders it worthy of remark. I had the plea- 
sure of hearing it recounted, in more happy 
times, at New- York. Martin was dressed in 
warm clothing, with good gloves ; a white cap, 
shirt and overalls were prepared for him. He 
appeared in the jail-yard among the prisoners, 
in his daily dress. The time of locking up, and 
calling the roll, generally happened about sun- 
down. It was the business of the captain of the 
provost, who was accompanied by a file of men. 
The prisoners, instigated by those in the secret, 
employed themselves out of doors, until late in 
the evening, in play, as if to keep their bodies 
warm. It was a blowing and dreary evening, 
which was purposely chosen. At locking up, 
those in the secret lagged behind; tardily? push- 



152 

ing the uninformed before, yet so slowly, as ef- 
fectually to crowd the gangway ; Martin remain- 
ing in the rear. The ojieration took place at 
the clanging of the lock of the great front door. 
This measure was imagined and effected on pur- 
pose to procure to Martin, a sufficiency of lei- 
sure to get to his hiding place, which was no 
other than a nook, formed by the projection of 
the door- way, and on the top of one of the banks 
before spoken of. Here he had time to put on 
his cap, shirt, &c. The officer who examined 
the yard, could not perceive him, unless he went 
out of the door, several paces to the left, and 
most probably, not even then, for Martin would 
be covered in the snow, and imperceptible. 
Happily the officer went no further than tlie 
tlireshold, and made but a slight survey of the 
yard. This account, so far, is derived from 
my oAvn knowledge ; what follows, is from Mar- 
tin himself, " Martin tarried there until seven 
or eight o'clock. The dilemma he was in, could 
only be surpassed in imminence of danger, by 
liis extreme activity, skill and courage. There 
were four sentries stationed around the jail — 
two at each corner in front, and the like number 
at the corners of the yard in the rear. Those 
sentries, though relieved every quarter of an 
hour, were soon driven into the sentry-boxes, by 
the cold and keenness of the whistling winds. 
If they had paced the spaces allotted them by 
duty, the escape of Martin must have been im- 
possible. Watching the true time, he slipped 
down the wall into the deep snow underneath 
unobserved. Hence, he made a sudden excur- 
sion to the left of St. John's gate, at a part of 
the wall, where he well knew no sentry was 
placed. Leaping the wall, into the snow, lie 



ieived the fire of a distant sentry. Maitn 
was unharmed. The sohlier iired, as it were 
at a phantom^ for when Martin's body came in- 
to contact with the snow, it was undiscernible — 
the desired information was given ;" but of this, 
we could merely make surmises until the May 
following. That which is very remarkable is, 
that th€ absence of Martin was unknown to go- 
vernment, until the explosion of our plot. 

Our next solicitude was the acquisition of 
powder. This article could be obtained but by 
sheer address and shrewd management. But 
we had to do with men who were not of the mili- 
tary east. We began first to enter into famili- 
arity with the sentries, joking with them and 
pretending to learn French from them. The 
guard, usually of Canadians, consisted of many 
old men, and young boys, who were very ** corn- 
ing," A few small gun-carriages were con- 
structed, not more than six inches in length, 
and mounted with cannon, or howitzers, which 
were made of many folds of paper, and were 
bound tightly around with thread. These were 
shewn to the sentries from time to time, and a 
little powder was requested, with which to 
charge them. Our births formed an angle of 
the room. The upper births, as well as the 
lower, had a ledge of several inches in heighth, 
in which, embrasures were formed with the 
knife. Two parties were raised in opposition to 
each other, each of which took possession o^f 
one side of the angle. The blaze and I'eport, 
which was nearly as great and as loud as that ol' 
small pistols, created much laughter and merH- 
ment. This sport, the child of a seeming folly^ 
served us as a pretence and justification for soli- 
oiting powder. Tiie appurcnt joy prevailing 



154 

among us, pleased the Canadians, both old and 
yoimg, and did not alarm the government. We 
obtained manj cartridges in the course of a lew 
weeks, two-thirds of which came to the hands of 
Aston and his corps, for the purpose of manu- 
facturing matches, &e. &e. Fire arms of any 
kind, could not by any finesse be procured. The 
commerce of cartridges, accompanied by a suavi- 
ty and deference of manners, towards our young 
friends, procured us many quarters of pounds of 
powder, which they bought secretly out of 
funds, some of which were procured in a ludi- 
crous way. We had many sick in the hospital, 
for when any one appeared to be disordered in 
the least degree, he was hurried to the infirma- 
ry, when cured, he was returned to us. Some 
of the men, went so far as to feign sickness, to 
get to that place, Avhere they lived in a more 
sumpiuous style than that of the jail. The fre- 
qut'ut removals caused the propagation of a re- 
port that the prison was unhealthy. Many pi- 
ous matrons, came to see us, and never empty 
handed. Some elderly nuns, of respectable fami- 
lies, were of the nuniber, and generally brouglit 
money, truly not great in quantity, but not the 
less acceptable to the sick and convalescent, as 
these alms procured them some slight comforts, 
such as tea, &c. These were the religious and 
humane collections of the sisterhood, and mostly 
consisted of the smallest change. There was a 
beautiful coimtenanecd youth, Thomas Gibson, 
first sergeant of Hendricks, who had studied 
physic at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, allied to me by 
affinity, who had, probably from a knowlege he 
had of his profession, sustained his health hith- 
erto ; his cheeks were blooming as roses. He 
was one of the council. As young men, we ciiv- 



ed little about the means, so tliat we obtained 
tUe end, wliieli was powder. We lived above 
stairs, and never shared in the gratuilies of the 
ladies, which were rapaeiousl^ awaited at the 
entrance of the prison. Gibson and myself, were 
standing at a window near the great door, and 
opposite to M» Coy's rooiu, a neat little box, 
which had been knocked up for his purposes. 
Looking into the street, a lady with a thick viil, 
was observed to take the path through ibe snow 
to our habitation. *< Zounds Gibson, there's a 
nun," was scarcely expressed, before he was 
hurried into M*Coy's apartment and put to bed, 
though dressed. Severals of us waited respect- 
fully at the door, till the oflicer of the guard 
unlocked it. The nun entered — she seemed, 
from her manners, to be genteel and respectable. 
We were most sedulous m our attentions to the 
lady, and so prevailed, as to induce her to come 
into McCoy's room. Here lay Gibson, covered 
to the chin with the bed-clothes, nothing expos- 
ed but his beautiful hair and red cheeks, the lat- 
ter indicating a high fever. It was well the lady 
was no physician. The nun crossing herself, 
and whispering a pater-noster, poured the con- 
tents of her little purse into the hand of the pa- 
tient, which he held gently, without the blanket- 
ing, and left us. Wliat stiould the donation he, 
b'it twenty-four coppers, equal at that time to 
two shillings of our money. The latter cireum- 
st'rioce added much to the humor, and extreme 
rnrrriment of the transaction. This money was 
g(»le!y ap'jropriated for powder. Thus, careless 
of every tl»ing but the means of escaping, we eri- 
jo,\ed many merry, and even happy hours. Asi 
ton, who was provident of time, by the niidith* of 
Mhi-c's, (I bave no n«4e of the precise pciiitd,) 
had all his matters of arrangement in good order. 



156 

The council assigned a day for tlie irrup- 
tion. As y\e dared not touch the door in the 
cellar, from a fear of diseoverv by inspection, 
(and it was examined almost daiJy,) it was de- 
termined to postpone the unloosing the hinges 
and lock, which were under our command, un- 
til the moment of escape. It became a main 
question, how to remove the ice at the foot of 
the door. Here lay the great difficulty, as it was 
universally agreed that the door must be drag- 
ged down suddenly, so that we might march 
over it. Remember also, that a sentry was 
posted not more than, from fifteen to twenty 
feet from the outside of the door. Many pro- 
positions were made in council, how to effect 
the removal of the body of ice without exposure 
to detection. One was lightly to pick it away 
with hatchets, a few of which, had been secret- 
ly retained, by the prisoners, and brought into 
the jail. To this, there were several insuper- 
able objections : the softest stroke of the light- 
est tomahack, upon the ice, would be heard by 
a sentry so near; or an unlucky stroke might 
touch the door, which would resound and ine- 
vitably cause a discovery. Others proposed to 
wear away the ice by boiling water ; two most 
obvious objections lay here: the steam would 
search for a vent through the crevices of the 
door, and window, aiid develop our measures; 
liesides the extreme cold would have congealed 
the hot water, the moment it fell, so as to add 
to our difticulties. Another idea was suggested, 
that was << with knives to cut the door across 
en the surface of the ice," to this plan there 
was a fatal exception, the ice had risen on the 
lower cross-piece of the door, nearly an inch, 
so that we must cut through the cross-piece 



i5ir 

icngthivise, and througli the thick plank cross- 
wise* Though this labour might have been ae- 
^emplished by industry and perseverance, yet 
the time it would m;cessarlly take» would cause 
a discovery by the searchers. The last and on- 
ly method to avoid discovery, was adopted. This 
was to embody sixteen or eigliteen of the most 
prudent men, who knew the value of silence* 
who should, two and two, relieve each other, and 
with our long knives pjently pare away the ice, 
next the sill of the door, so as to make a groove 
of four or six inches wide, parallel withj> 
and deep as the sill. The persons were name/l 
and appointed to this service. Now the capabi- 
lity of the execution of our plot, infused comfort 
and joy into all hearts^ It was intended imme- 
diately after locking- up, on the night of the 
irruption, that those prudent men, should des- 
xjend into the vault by pairs, and by incessant 
labour, have the work finished by three o'cloi*k 
In the morning, when the sally should be^ made. 
We had carefully noticed from the walls of the 
jail, and the ridge of the h©use> where there is 
a trap-door, the placing of the guards^ the num* 
hers and stationing of the sentries. We were safe> 
therefore, in the measures we had taken, for 
the attack of the guard of St. John's gate* Our 
own guard Was perfectly scrutinized. The op- 
portunities, were of the most commodious kind^ 
The guard-house, was directly in our front, 
where we could sec and be seen. Their win- 
dows had no shutters. They had lights all the 
night through : we, the better to observe them> 
kept none. This latter circumstance, enabled^ 
us distinctly to see, that the arms with fixeil 
bayonets, were placed in the right hand corner 
«jf the room, as we would enter from the^tair* 
O 



158 

liead, and that the guard towards mornin.^, to ft 
man, -uere lying asleep on the floor. The senr 
tries, as they were relieved, did the like. This 
guards as was before said, in ordiivdry, consist- 
ed of tliirty persons. Boyd's party from a per- 
fect knowledge of their method of conducting, 
esteemed it no great hardiness, to undertake 
the overwhelming them. Subsequently our dan- 
ger must appear. The nights were piercingly 
cold — the sentries soon housed themselves in 
ihf'ir boxes. As the sally, to succeed, must be 
inost silent and quick, it was hoped to quiet ull 
of them, before any alarm could spread. Be- 
sides* Boyd*s divison (the first rank of whiih, 
"Were to despatch the nearest sentry by the spear.) 
Others of the succeeding corps, were assigned 
to assail the rest of the sentries, immediately 
around the prison. The getting up Uie staire 
of our guard- house, so quickly as to create s^o 
alarm, was not only feasible, but in my mind, 
(with the force delegated to us,) of absolute 
certainty of success. The front door was al- 
ways open by night and by day, we knew the 
precise number of steps, the stairs contained. 
An agile man, would mount at three strides. 
A light was continually in the passage. Enter- 
ing the room, and turning to the right, tlie 
arms in the corner were ours. The bayonet, 
from necessity, would become the lot of the guard. 
In this part of the enterprise, profound silence 
was all important; the section was to rely on 
the spear and tomahack. Aston on the other 
hand, being victorious at St. John's gate, wag 
instantly to turn the cannon upon the city: his 
fuses, portfire, &c. were prepared and ready as 
substitutes for those of the esjemy, \f they were 
extinguished or taken from tlie guus. It was 



159 

kn^wu to us, that all the cannon of the rain- 
parts were charged and primed, and boxes of 
ammunition and piles of balls in the vicinity of 
«aeh gun, it was calculated, that the execution 
of the business of our section, might be effected 
in at least fifteen minutes, together with the 
firing of the houses. Then running to support 
Aston, and if he was victorious, to maintain ^ 
our position on the walls, under a hope of the 
arrival of the American army from without. 
In that event, St. Joiin's gate, as a first mea- 
sure, was to be opened. But if Aston should 
unfortunately be beateuj (which was most im- 
probable,) then we were to fiy in all directions, 
and make thef adventurous leap. It was sup- 
posed that in the latter case, the hurry and 
bustle created by so sudden, unforeseen anu 
daring an attack, would throw the garrison into 
consternation and disorder, to so great a de- 
gree, as to admit the escape of many. Slug-^ 
gards might expect to be massacred. 

The particularity of the foregoing details, 
arc purposely made to impress on your minds, a 
single truth : *<That tlie best imagined schemes 
*< and thorougliiy digested designs, whether in 
« military or civil life, may be defeated by a 
«* thoughtless boy, the interference of an idiot 
<•' or a treacherous knave." Two lads from 
Connecticut or Massachusetts, whose names are 
now lost to my memory, prisoners with us, hut 
who had no manner of connection or intercourse 
with the chiefs, nor knew the minute, yet es- 
sential parts of the measures of the council : 
but probably having overheard a whisper of the 
time and manner of the evasion ; Those young 
men without consultation, Avithout authority 
from their superiors, in the thoughtless ardor of 



160 

ilieir miods^ on the eve of the sally, descended 
into the cellar, and wilh hatchets, picked at 
the. ice at the door-sill. The operation was heard. 
The senti'y tlireatened to lire. The guard was 
instantly alarmed and immediately doubled, and 
all our long-laboured schemes and well digested 
plans, annihilated in a moment. You cannot 
form an adequate idea of the pangs we endured. 
M^' heart was nearly broken by the excess of 
surprize and burning anger, to he thus fatuit- 
busl.y deprived of the gladdening hope of a spee- 
dy return to our friends and country. It became 
US, however, to put the best face upon it. It 
\vas suddenly resolved hy the eliiefs, to kill the 
person who should disclose the general plot, 
and to wait upon the officers on the ensuing 
siiuriiifig, with uiir uniial attentions. When morn- 
ing came, it found us afoot. About sunrise^ 
the formidable inquisition took place. Major 
Murray, captain Prentis, the officer of the guard, 
and a dozen musketeers came, — we awaited 
their approach undismayed. They accosted us 
very coolly. The cellar was visited, and the 
work of those fools was apparent. Re-ascending, 
v/e could assure the gentlemen, that this effort 
to escape, was without the knowledge of any of 
us. This to besure, was said in the Jesuitical 
style* but those who made the assertion, did 
not then know either the persons or the names 
of the silly adventurers. The officers and the 
guard were departing, fully persuaded that it 
Avas no more tban the attempt of one or two 
persons to escape. Major Murray was the last 
to recede. An Englishman of whom we knew 
not that he was a deserter from our enemies at 
Boston, had posted himself close to the right 
jamb of the door, which was more than half 




161 

opened for the passage of the major. Those of 
us, who were determinded to execute our last 
night's resolution, armed with our long knives, 
had formed a half-circle around the door, with- 
out observing the intrusion and presence of the 
deserter. Major Murry was standing on the 
threshold, speaking in a kindly manner to us, 
when the villian sprung past the major, even 
jostling him. The spring he made, was so sud- 
den and so entirely unsuspected, that he screen- 
ed himself from our just vengeance. Touching 
maj. Murray's shoulder, "Sir," says he <<Ihavc 
something to disclose." The guards encompass- 
ed the traitor, and hurried him away to the 
Governor's palace. We instantaneously perceiv- 
ed the extent and consequences of this disaster* 
The prisoners immediately destroyed such of 
the arms, as were too bulky to hide, if destruct- 
ible, and secreted the rest. In an hour or two^ 
a file of men with an officer, demanded Boyd, 
Cunningham and others, represented by the vilc^ 
informer, as lukewarm in the plot. They were 
escorted to the Governor's council. Here they 
found, that the wretch had evidenced all our 
jwoceedings minutely, naming every one Avha 
was prominent. Our worthy compatriots were 
examined on oath, and as men of honor could 
not conceal the truth. The questions of the 
council, (furnished by the informer,) did not ad- 
mit of equivocation or evasion, if the examin- 
ants had been so inclined, and besides all ter- 
giversation, when the outline was marked, was 
nugatory. They boldly admitted and justified 
the attempt. We did not fare the worse in our 
provisions nor in the estimation of our enemy. 
Returning to the jail, my dear Boyd shed the 
tears of excruciating anguish iu my bosom, <!«* 
2 



162 

ploring our adverse fate. We had vowed to: 
each other to be free or die, and to be thus 
foolishly baulked^ caused the most heart rend- 
ing grief. Towards two o'clock P. M. we seen 
several heavy cart-loads, consisting of long and 
weighty irons 5 such as bilboes, foot-lHibbles 
nnd hand-cuifs, arrive. The prisoners were or- 
<lered to their rooms. The ironing began 
below stairs with Morgan's company. Here 
the bilboes were expended. If not much mis- 
taken, ten or twelve person were secured, each 
Xiy a foot to a bar twelve feet long, and two 
inches in diameter. The heavy bolts were ex- 
hausted in the story below us. When they 
came to our range of rooms, they turned to the 
left, instead of coming to the right where we 
"Were. By the time the officers came to us, even 
Ihe hand-cuffs were nearly out. Each of us was 
obliged to take to his birth, which contained 
jRve men each. When they had shackled those 
of the lov/er births, they commenced at one 
tlie most distant from ours. SHpping in the 
rear of my companions, bent down in apparent 
trepidation, the black-smith ironed my mess- 
juates, and then called to me to descend and 
submit to his office. Coming — *< Never mind 
that lad," said my friend captain Prciitis. They 
had but three or four pair of hand-cuffs loft, 
which were clapped on tlie elderly and robust.. 
Besides M<Coy, our Boniface the cook,^ Doc- 
tor Gibson, two others and myself, who were 
unhampered, all the rest were, in appearance, 
tightly and firmly secured. Though M*Coy 
iind Bonilace, were adepts at insurrection, yet 
their services were of too much importance to 
government, to be dispensed with. The ftthets 
of the unfetteiMid^ remained so from the e5ilmns5 




163 

^on of the shackles. A new species of interest- 
ing occurrences, mingled with much fun and 
sportive humor now occurred, which was suc- 
eeeded by a series of horrible anguish. The 
doors were scarcely closed, before we began to 
assay the unshackling. Those who had small 
liiinds, by compressing the palms, could easily 
divest the irons from their wrist. Of these 
there were many, who became the assistants of 
their friends, whose hands were larger. Here 
there wiis a ne<*essity for ingenuity. Knives 
notched as saws, were the principal means. 
The head of the rivet, at tlie end of the bar, 
was sawed off, it was lengthened and a screw 
formed upon it, to cap which, a false head was 
made, either of iron or of lead, resembling as 
much as possible the true head. Again new 
rivets were formed, from the iron we had pre- 
served in our secret hoards, from the vigilance 
of the searchers. Tiiese new rivets being made 
to bear a strong likeness to the old, v/ere then 
cut into two parts — one part was driven into 
the bolt tightly, became stationary, the other 
part was moveable. It behoved the nearer of 
the manable to look to it, that he did not lose 
the loose part, and when the searchers came 
to examine, that it should stand firm in the or- 
ifice. Soine poor fellows, perhaps from a defect 
of ingenuity, the hardness of the iron, or the 
want of the requisite tools, could not discharge 
the bilboes. This was particularly the melan- 
choly predicament of three of Morgan's men, 
whose heels were too long to slip through the 
iron, which encompassed tl^e small of the leg. 
It was truely painful, to see three persons at- 
tached to a monstrous bar, the weight of which 
«^*^0Ye their strength t^^ai-ry. It added to 



164 

the poignancy of their sufferings, in such frigid 
weather, that their colleagues at the har, hav- 
ing shorter heels, could withdraw the foot and 
peramhulate the jail: where their companions 
left them, there they must remain seated on the 
floor, unless some kind hands assisted them to 
remove. 

There was a droll dog from the eastward, who 
was douhly unfortunate : in the attack of the 
city, he had received a spent hall in the pit of 
the storaaeh, which had nearly ended him : nbw 
it hecame his lot to have an immense foot-holt 
fastened to his leg, without a companion to hear 
him company, and cheer his lonely hours. This 
victim of persecution and sorrow, would some- 
times come auTong us in the yard, hearing up 
his bolt, slung by a cord hitched over his shoul- 
der. Nothing could damp his spirits. lie talk- 
ed, laughed and sung incessantly. Some others, 
besides those, were similarly situated. Those 
who Mere so luckky as to have light hand- cuffs, 
bore tlicm about with them. The greatest dan- 
ger of discovery, arose from those who could 
free themselves from the heavy irons. The 
usual visitations were increased froni twice to 
thrice a day, in the first and last the smith 
searched the bolts of each person. But there 
were ofhev intrusions, intermediately, by offi- 
cers evidently despatched by the suspicions of 
government, for the purpose of discovery. To 
counteract these new measures of caution and 
jealousy, we were well prepared. Sentries, on 
our part, were regularly stationed at certain 
window s of the jail, to descry the approach of 
any one in the garb of an officer. The view from 
these windows, was pretty extensive, down two 
of the streets, particularly that leading to the 



165 

palace. Nat withstanding every eaiUiofi to avoiili 
detection, yet the clang of the lock of the great 
door, was upon some occasions, the only warning 
given US of the impending danger. The scamp* 
cHn;4;s at those times were truly diverting, and 
having always escaped discovery, gave us much 
;aiuusi incut. The clanking of the fetters fol- 
lowed, and was rerrihle; such as the imagina- 
tion forms in childhood, of the condition of the 
souls in Tiirtarus ; even this was sport. Happi- 
ly our real situation was never known to any of 
the goverjsment officers ; unless the good black- 
smith, (a worthy Irishman, of a feeling heart,) 
might he called such, and he was silent. 

Towards the middle of April, the scurvy^ 
which we had been imbibing during the winter, 
now made its appearance in its most virulent 
and deadly forms, preceded and accompanied by 
a violent diarrhoea. Mnny of those who were 
first affected were taken to the hospital. But 
the disease soon became general among us. We 
were attended several times by doctor Maybin, 
the physician-general, who, by his tender atten- 
tions, and amiable manners, won our affections : 
he recommended a cleansing of the stomach, by 
ipeeacuannah and mild catharticks, such as rhu- 
barb, together with due exercise. Those who 
were young, active, and sensible of the doctor's 
salutary advice, kept afoot, and practised every 
kind of athletic sport we could devise. On the 
contrary, those who were supinely indolent, and 
adhered to their blankets, became objects of real 
commiseration — their limbs contracted, as one 
of mine is now : large blue and even black 
blotches appeared on their bodies and limbs— 
the gums became black — the morbid flesh fell 
a^way — the teeth loosened, and in several instan- 



166 

<j<iis fell out. Oup minds were now really de- 
pressed. That hilarity and fun which siippoHecl 
our spirits in the greatest misfortunes, gave way 
to waitings, groanings and death. I know, from 
dire experienoe^ that when the body suffers pain, 
the mind, for the time, is deprived of all its ex- 
Lilirations — in short, almost of the power of 
thinking. The elbow joints, the hips, the knees 
and ancles were most severely pained. It was 
soon observed,, (though the doctor's mate attend- 
ed us almost daily, and very carefully,) there 
was little or no mitigation of our diseases, except 
that the diarrhoea, which was derived from ano- 
ther cause than that which produced the scurvy, 
was somewhat abated; and that our remedy lay 
elsewhere in the materia medica, which was be- 
yond the grasp of the physician. The diarrhcea 
caine from the nature of the water we used daily. 
In the month of April, (he snows begin to melt, 
uot by the heat of the sun, but most probably by 
the warmth of the earth beneath the snows. 
The ground, saturated witli the snow-water, na- 
turally increased the fountain-head in the cellar. 
Literally, we drank the melted snow. The 
acurvy had another origin. The diet — salt pork, 
infamous biscuit — damp, and close confinement, 
in a narrow space, together witli the severity of 
the climate, were the true causes of the scurvy. 

There was no doubt in any reflective mind 
among us, but that the virtuous and beneficent 
Carleton, taking into view his perilous predica- 
ment, did every thing for us, which an honest 
man and a good Christian could. 

An observation may be made in' this place 
with propriety, that is, that in the climates of all 
high southern or northern regions, the soil is 
very rich and prolific. This beneficial opera- 




i6T 

tiofl of nature, is, in all likelihood attributable ta 
the nitrous qualities which the snow tieposites^ 
Of the fact, that nitre is the principal ingredi- 
ent which causes fertility in the earth, no man 
of observation, can at this day, reasonably doubt. 
Ti»e earth is replete of it. Wherever earth unci 
shade unite, it is engendered and becomes appa- 
rent. This idea is proved by the circumstance^ 
that nitre may be procured from caves, the earth 
of cellars, outhouses, and even -from common 
earth, if kept under cover. During the late re» 
volution, when powder was so necessary, we 
every where experienced the good effects of thi* 
minerological disco vei'y ; it gives me pleasure to 
say, that it is most fairly ascribabie to our Ger- 
mao ancestors. The snows which usually fall 
in Canada about the middle of November, and 
generally cover the ground until the end of 
April, in my opinion, fill tlie soil with those ve- 
gt tative salts, which forward the growth of 
plants. This idea was evinced to me, by my 
vague and inconsiderate mind, from observations 
then made, and witich wore more firmly establish- 
ed by assurances irom captain Prentis, that muck 
or iftanure, which we employ in southern climates, 
is there never used. In that country, the mo- 
nieut the ground is freed from snow, the grass 
aiJit every si>ecies of plant, spring forward in 
the most luxuriant manner. Captain Prentis, 
besides the continuation of his care and friend- 
ship to Gibson and myself, did not restrain his 
gt 'lerosity to individuals, but procured for us a 
p< amission from government, to send out an old 
Irishman, of the New-York line, an excellent ea- 
Iholic, to collect. for us vegetable food. The 
fir Sit specimen of this good old man's attention 
«md industry, was the production of a large bas- 



165 

lie(-fuil of the ordinary blue-grass of our coun- 
try ; this grass, by those who got at it, was de- 
voured ravenously at the basket, if so happy as 
to be able to come near It. Scurvy grass, in 
many varieties, eschalots, smali onions, onion 
tops and garlic, succeeded, and were welcomed 
by all of us for several months afterwards. This 
voracious appetite, for vegetables, seems to be 
an incident always concurring in that terrible 
disease, the scurvy : nature seems to instil into 
the patient, a desire of such food, and of acids» 
which ai'e the only specific, with a due attention 
to cleanliness, hitherto discovered, that do eradi- 
cate the stamina of the disease. From my con- 
tracted knowledge, it is imperceptible that there 
is any material discrepancy, between the sea- 
scurvy and the land-scurvy of high southern and 
northern latitudes. The descriptions given by 
Robins, (or if you please, the Rev. Mr. Walter,) 
and other voyagers, of the causes, the symp- 
toms and the effects of that disorder, seem to con- 
cur in every particular with our various expe- 
rience at Quebec. Recollect it is not a physi- 
cian who speaks.* 

About the time above spoken of, governor 
Carleton directed that we should be supplied 
with fresh beef. This was no other than that 
which had been brought into the city when we 
lay at Aux-Tremble, in the foregoing autumn, 
and in aid of the stores of the garrison. It hud 
lain in a frozen state during the winter, without 
salting, but now as warm weather was approach- 
ing, it began to thaw and was liberally disposed 
of to the garrison and prisoners. The beef was 
fSweet, though here and there a little blueish, like 

* Sec Note XII. 



the mould of stale bread, very (ender, but some- 
\Aiui mAwkhlu It was palatable and nutritive 
to iiien atHicted as we were. This beef, eon-. 
nested with vegetables, soon animated us with 
an idea of returninj^ tiealth and vigor : yet, 
tliough it mitigated the pains we endured, it did 
not totally expel the scurvy. 

The seventh of May arrived. Two ships cam* 
to the aid of the garrison, beating through a 
body of ice, which perliaps was impervious t# 
any other than the intrepid sailor. This relief 
of men and stores, created great joy in the town. 
Our army began iheir disorderly retreat. My 
friend Simpson, with his party, were much mis- 
ii-sed, from a neglect of giving him informatioit 
of the intended ilightorour army. Some few 
of the men under his authority, straggled and 
"were taken in the retreat. They came to inha- 
bit our house. Now, for the first time, we heard 
an account of the occurrences during the win- 
ter's blockade, which to us, though of trivial 
import, were immensely interesting. The sally 
of this day, produced to (he prisoners additional 
c 'mfort. Though the troops took a severe re- 
Vr-nge upon our friends without, by biirnir?g and 
dt stroying their properties. The next day^ 
ijior-^ ships and troops arrived : a pursuit took 
place, the efr»"Cl of which was of no conseq«r« jice, 
exK^ept so far u si it tended to expel the tohmial 
troo«)s from Canada. To the prisoners, this re- 
treat had pleasing consequences ; fresh brciul, 
b<'cf newly slaughtered, and a superabundance 
i of vegetables, was a saintary diet to our reduced 
and seorhutic bodies. S'.ill fre»"doni, that great- 
est ot* biesstngs, and exercise were recjuired to 
biiag back to us genuine health. Aboiit t^».'s 
time an incident occurred, which threw us ictc 
P 



170 

extacy, as it relieved our minds and faculties 
from a most torturing piece of [ireservative duty*: 
this was no other than an authoritative divest- 
ment of the irons. One day, peihaps the fif- 
teenth or eighteenth of May, colonel Maclean, 
attended by major Carleton, a younger brother 
of the general's, major Maibaum, * a German 
officer, both of whom had just arrived from Eu- 
rope, together with captain Prentis, and other 
oncers, entered the jail about mid-day. The 
prisoners paraded in the jail-yard completely 
ironed. Captain Prentis, by the direction of co- 
lonel Maclean, pointed out to the other otficers ; 
** This is general such-a-one— that is colonel 
snch-a-one," and in this manner proceeded to 
name all the leading characters. Happening to 
be very near the amiable, it might be said, ad^ 
mirable major Carleton, he was overheard to 
say, "colonel, ambition is laudable ; cannot the . 
irons of these men bt* struck off?" This the co- 
lonel ordered to be done immediately. Our 
kind-hearted blacksmith was not distant : he 
came, and the officers remained to see some of 
the largest bolts divested, and then left us. 
« Come, come, gentlemen," said the blacksmith, 
**you can put off your irons." In a minute, the 
vast pile lay before him. Being now at full bo- 
dily liberty, we completed a ball court, which 
h^d been originally formed, as it were, by 
stealth. Here a singular phenomenon whicli 
attends the scurvy, discovered itself. The vene- 
rable and respectable Maybin, had recommended- 
to us exercise, not only as a mean of cure, but 
ab a preventive of the scorbutic humours ope- 
rating, p'our of the most active^ wouhl engage 
at a « game of *< fives." Having played some -: 

♦ Sfi€ Note XIIL 



171 

rvalues in continuation, if a party ineautiously 
•SAt clown, he was seized by liie most violent 
l^pains in the hips and knees, which incapacitated 
liim from play for many houi»s, and from rising 
i'rom the earth, where tlie patient had seated 
■himself. These pains taught us to keep afoot 
^11 iVay, and even to eat our food in an erect pos- 
ture. Going to bed in the evening, after ahard 
J^ay's play, those sensations of pain upon laying 
•Idown, immediately attacked us. The pain would 
continue half an hour, and often longer. My 
iwn experience will authorise me to say two' 
iiours. In the morning, we rose free from pain^ 
land the routine of play and fatigue ensued, but 
tlways attended by the same effects, particularly 
:o the stubborn and incautious, who would not 
idhere to the wholesome advice of doctor May- 
lin. Those who were inactive, retained those ex- 
cruciating pains to the last, together with their 
distorted, bloated, and blackened limbs. Upon 
our return from Canada, in the autumn of 1776, 
1 saw five or six of my crippled compatriots, 
hobbling through the streets of Lancaster on 

jHP their way home. It cost a tear — all that could 

B«be given. By the month of August, the active 

B^were relieved from those pains. 

W^-- Towards the end of May, governor Carleton 
ordered eacli of the prisoners a linnen shirt. 
This gift, to me. Was most agreeable, as linnen 
next the skin, for some months past, was unfelt, 
and few persons who have not felt the extremity 
of such endurances as ours, can form a full con- 
ception of the gratification we enjoyed. Having 
had but one shirt on at the time of our capture, 
it was soon destroyed by the wearing, and the 
repeated washings it required. Delicacy for- 
bids a dilation upon the cause and effects. Y6u 
would laugh at the description of one of our 



172 

"^yasliiog parties. Rising carlv, the prime c)ljje«*t 
was to make a strong ley of wood-ashes, of vvSiicU 
ive had plenty, into which theiinnen was plung- 
ed, and coneocted lor an hour or more, under a 
liope of putting an end to certain vagrau(t, <'f a 
l^encra with which most of us are aequaiiHed. 
During the boiliiig, the votaries of cleanliness, 
cloaked in a hlanket, or hhtnket-coaC, >\*dU'lied 
the ebuiiitions of the keitie. The boiling done, 
the linnen mus borne to the yard, where each 
one washed his own, and watched it during ihe 
drying, almost in a state of nature. Caplain 
Prentis, pitying my sad condition, pressed upon 
;n»e often to accept fiom him, money to purchase 
a suit of clothes, j«nd Jie wo»hi trust to the hon- 
or and iiitegrily of my fatJI»er for paynjcnt, 
wSiGse character he knew. Adhering to my first 
cleti rmination, this polite and generous proposal 
of my amiable and deserving friend, was as 
often, yet most thankfully decli^ied, maugre the 
advice of my hosoni friends Boyd and Cunning- 
lia;n to the contrary. He however ioiced upon 
jne a lialf Johannes, This small sunj was appli- 
ed to the solace of my lieart. In the first ]ilace, 
to an article still more necessary than a shirt. 
The residue was expended upon matters which 
cheered the hearts of my messmates, whom I 
de^trly loved ; cheese, sugar, tea, coffee, tVc. 
spirits- was devested, as we knew it to be a poi- 
son to scorbutic persons. V» hat pleased me 
much more, and gave me pure delight, was the 
following occurrence : Of my own accord, no 
one knowing of the intention, the good old Irish- 
man was delegated to purchase three or four 
pounds of tobacco. It was secretly brought* 
and as secretly borne to our room, A pound 
\vas produced and fairly parted among our to- 




173 

eo-chewers. You cannot conceive their joy. 
Wlicn the first paroxism was over, tiie remain- 
der was disposed of in the same way. The thank- 
fulness of those brave, but destitute men, arose 
towards me, nearly to adoration. You will ask 
why ? Hear the reason : From your small 
knowlcge of mankind, you can have little con- 
ception of the force habit has on the human 
race. One who chews, smokes or snuffs to- 
bacco, is as little able to abstain from that en- 
joyment, as you would be, if compelled, to re- 
frain from your usual meals. This particular 
is spoken of, to persuade you by no m^an to use 
tobacco in any shape'. It is a poi&ou, of the most 
inveterate kind, which like opium, arsenic, and 
several other medicaments, may be applied to 
healthful purposes, yet, if employed in an ex- 
treme degree, produces instantaneous death* 
Tliese ideas are not visionary, but are supporta- 
ble I>y the authority of some of the best physici- 
ans. You are at full liberty to put your own 
constructions upon these observations. But to 
return to my fellow- prisoners. 

In the wilderness, where the army soon run- 
out tJie article of tobacco, the men had many 
valuable succedaneums.- The barks of the dif- 
ferent kinds of firs, the cedar, the red willow, * 
and tlie leaves of many astringent or bitter plants 
supplied the place ; but within the bare walls of 
our jail, there was no suhstitute for this dear 
and inebriating vegetable. Thus was all my 
money expended, and much to my satisfaction, 
iind to the heart-felt pleasure of my brave and 
worthy companions, whose suiferings, in certain 
points, were greater than my own. The table 

* See Note XIV. 

F % 



174 

of the virtuous and generous Prcntis, had oHcii 
fnrniSlied mc liberally with wholesome viands. 
"With convalescency though pennyless, we again 
became merry and lighthearted. 

In the beginning of August, we were told by 
eaptain Prentis, that the Governor had conclud- 
ed, to send us by sea to New-York upon parole, 
for the purpose of being exchanged ; that the 
transports, which had brought the late rein- 
forcements from JEurope, were cleansing and 
preparing for the voyage. Now there was ex- 
ultation. On the seventh of August, we sub- 
S'nibed our written paroles.'^ Captain Pren<is 
procured me permission from government, with 
a few friends, Co traverse the city. An officer 
of the garrison attended us. Our first desire 
was, to see the grave of our General, and those 
©f his aides ; as well as those of the beloved 
Hendricks and Humphreys. The graves Avere 
within a small place of interment, neatly walled 
with stone. Tbe eoffins of Montgomery, Cheese- 
man and M*Pherson, were well arranged, side 
by side. Those of Hendricks, Humphreys, Coop- 
er, &e. were arranged on the south side of tlie 
inclosure, but as the burials of these heroes, 
took place in a dreary winter, and tlie earth 
impenetrable, there was but little soil on the 
cofilns, the snow and ice, which had been the 
jH'ineipal covering, being now dissolved, the foot 
of the GeneraPs coffin, was exf>osed to the air 
ami view. The coffin was well formed of fir- 
plank. Captain Prentis assured me, that the 
graves should be deepened, and the bodies duly 
deposited; for he also knew Montgomery as a 
fellow- soldier, and lamented his^ untimely fate. 

» See Note XV, 




175 

nee we proceeded past the eliadel^ uloiig 
the ramparts to Cape Diamond, descended the 
declivity slantingly, and examined the stockades 
and block-house. It is this little tour, which 
enabled me to describe to you, the site and 
defences of that formidable pass. Proceeding 
thence through a part of the Lower-town, wc 
came to a narrow street, which led us to an 
immense stair-way, one of the ascents into the 
Upper-town. Ascending here, we cauic to the 
main passage, which curvatured down the hill 
into the Lower-town, and which was to lead us 
in our supposed attack upon the Upper- town ; 
this wc pursued, and came to the place of the 
second barrier, which Itad been lately demo- 
lished. The houses on both sides of the street, 
in which wc had taken our stand, were now in 
I'uins, having been burnt by the garrison, as 
were the suburbs of St. Roque and St. John's. 
This was done to render them unfit for the shel- 
ter of future assailants. Thus it is, that war 
destroys the wealth, and robs the individual of 
happiness. We had no time to make observa- 
tions, but such as could be done in passing has- 
tily. Returning to tlie Upper-town, by the prin- 
cipal and winding road, we were strongly im- 
pressed witli the opinion, that if our whole 
force, as was intended, had formed a junction 
in the Lower-town, that it was utterly imprac- 
ticable, either from our numbers or our means, 
to mount by a road such as this was. Suppose 
it not to have been barricaded and enfiladed by 
cannon, it roust be assailed by the bayonet, of 
which weapon, we had very few, and the enemy 
was fully supplied. But when we reflect, that 
across the road, at the centre of the arc of each 
curve; there was a barx'ieade, and cannon placed 



176 

to rake the intervals between the differeiiC 
barricades, the difficulties of the ascent, which 
is very steep, would be increased even to insur- 
mountability. The road is very narrow and 
lined, next the hill, by a stupendous precipice : 
on the other liand, there were some houses ro- 
mantically perched on the side of the declivity, 
and some rocks. The declivity of itself was an 
excellent defence, if the besieged could main- 
tain the position in front, for in a short time, 
in so confined a space, the assailants must either 
die, retreat, or be thrown down the hill from 
the road. But suppose all these defences over- 
come, and we had arrived at the brow of t!ie hill 
at the entrance of the Upper-town, here a still 
more formidable obstacle ])reseiited itself, than 
those which could be formed by art in the lower 
parts of the road. At this place there is a hol- 
low-way, which in the hurry we were in, a.nd 
the slight view we dared take, appeared as if 
cut out of the solid rock, of a depth of thirty 
or forty feet. Athwart this way, there was a 
strong stockade of a heigiit nearly equal with 
the perpendicular sides of the way or gulley^ 
From the surface above, we might have been 
stoned to death, by the defenders of the fortress, 
without a probability of their receiving harm 
from us below, tliough ever so well armed. But 
the stockade itself, from its structure and abun- 
dant strength, would have resisted a force mani- 
fold our numbers, and much better supplied 
and accoutred. From these observations, (those 
of an uninstructed youth to be sure,) there was 
no hesitation in telling my intimate friends, then 
and since, that the scheme of the conquest of 
the Upper-town, was visionary and groundless f 
not the result of our dear general's reflections. 



177 

but forced upon him hy the nature and neeessi 
tics of the liuies, and liis disui^'i'ceable prediej 
iwent. If a coalition of our forces in Cbe Lo>vei 
town liad taken effect, tJte general >vouId the 
luobt probably, have developed his latent anj 
real plans. The reasons given in council, inajt^ 
have been promulgated, nierelv to induce a more 
spirited exertion upon the part of the officers 
and soldiery, >vho were not in the secret, ta 
ext ite a factitious valor. Getting into serious 
action, and warmed by the opposition of the 
enemy, the troops might have been induced 
to persevere, la any apparently sudden desiga 
of the g"ner»J. The eupidity of the soldiers 
had been played upon. This latter fact, is known 
to ine of my own particular knowledge. Son^e 
weeks before the atJack, the soldiers in their 
common conversations, spoke of the conquest 
of the city, as a certainty ; and exultingly of 
the plunder, they should win by their bravery. 
It was not my busiitiess to contradict: but to 
urge them on. Perhaps the setting lire to tiie 
liOwcr-town, on the >k\ii of Cape Diamond ; 
considering the prevailing wind, wlsich was at 
south-east, but ai'terwards changed to north 
and north-west; sucFi a design might liave been 
clfeeted. The shij^jying also iee-bcund, numer- 
ous and valuable, moored around tiie point, 
would have- been consumable. All this destruc- 
tion would have been a victory of no mean kind ; 
but adding eclat to the known gallantry and 
prowess of the general. The Almighty willed, 
tliat we should never know the pith or marrow 
of his projects; whatever tliey were, my mind 
is assured that they were considerately and well 
designed. He was not a man to act incautious- 
ly and without motive, and too honest and brave 



178 

to adopt a sinister part. No doubt we could 
have escaped bj the way of Si. Roque, protect- 
ed hy the smoke of the conflagration, and the 
terror and bustle, which would consequently be 
created in the town. Though this pass is too 
narrow for the operation of a large body of 
men, in an extended front, still we should have 
heen too nunterous, (under the circumstances 
supposed,) for the enemy to afford, a force issu- 
ing from Palace-gate, adequate to oppose us. 
In the next instance, if we should happen to be 
so very fortunate, in such a retreat, as to bat 
the foes, they must retreat into the city, by 
the way of Palace-gate, and we should have 
entered pell-mell, and should thus have achiev- 
ed the possession of that important place, the 
Upper- town, which was the primary view, and 
last hope of the general and the army. These 
were the crude notions of a youth, formed upon 
the spot, but in a maturation of thirty years, 
are still retained. 

The general did not want for information. 
Many persons, male and female, (unnecessary 
mouths,) were expelled the city, to wander for 
subsistence among their friends in the country. 
His own knowledge of Quebec, wliere he had 
served, would enable him by interrogation, to 
extort from those emigrants a full stock of infor- 
mation of all the new defences erected by Go- 
vernor Carleton since. Consequently, knowing 
the practicability of Cape Diamond, (Aunce de 
merCf which must be provincial, and 1 do not 
understand,) as an entrance to the Lower-town, 
(but a most dangerous one,) and that of St. 
Roque, with which and its barriers, he was 
particularly acquainted, from his own, and the 
observations of others; if so, he would most 



179} 

assuredly be informed of the defensive obstruc- 
tions on the slope of the hill, and the encloy- 
nient of the troops, which would in consequence 
attend: and he would also know that this place> 
to the garrison, would be a perfect Thermopj^lse, 
impassable by ten times our numbers, if we had 
been veterans and were better furnished. From 
these reasons, there was an inducement for my 
mind, at all times since the attack, to conclude, 
that it was never general Montgomery's real 
design, to conquer the TJppper town, b^y an in- 
vasion from the Lower-town, but his hidden 
and true plan was, by a consolidation of our 
whole force, to burn the Lower-town, and the 
shipping, and to retreat by the way of Palace- 
gate and St. Roquc. If a sally was made at 
Palace- gate, the event, as was observed before, 
might be fatal to the enemy. The comprehen- 
sive mind of Montgomery, would not only ap- 
preciate to the full extent, the peculiar advan- 
tages of the enem^, but estimate to its true 
value the means he possessed, and the merits 
of his own army. Presuming the colonists to 
be successful in the Lower-town, where there 
was much wealth, and the avaricious aniong us be ^ 
in some degree gratified, it would have created 
a spirit of hope and enterprise in the men, tend- 
ing to induce them to remain with us. After- 
wards, combining our whole force, with the re- 
inforcements we had a* prospect of receiving, 
an attack upon the Upper-town might have suc- 
ceeded. In a word the destruction of the Lower- 
town, in my apprehension, should be considered 
merely, as preparatory to a general assail ment 
of the Upper-town, notwithstanding all that has 
been said in the raemoirs of those davs A con- 
trary opinion wtjnt abr4>ad « tliat' the general^ 



180 

if 4ie hail lived, by tliis assault would have eoii- 
quered Quebec.*' No idea could be move iulii- 
cious. It was politically right, to keep up that 
opinion, among the people in those trying times, 
bsjt its accomplishment with our accompaniment 
of men and defective arms, was ideal. Our 
walk from the great gate and palisade, was con- 
siderable, ere we reached our detestable dwell- 
ing: as Ave had enjoyed a few hours of fleeting 
liberty, the ♦♦ locking- up," became the more 
liorrible to our feelings. The next day, hovv'^ 
ever, we had the ineffable pleasure, of marc^h- 
jng in a body to the water side, ami embarked 
Oil board fiv« transports. On the following day, 
a new joy was in store for me. Ger.i'ral Wil- 
liam Thompson, (of whom it might well be said, 
^* this is a maiif^^) who had commanded our re- 
giment, at Prospect-hill, as its colonel: he had 
been taken prisoner at the Three rivers, with 
several other officers, in the preceding month 
of June. He was now aboard of our liule fleet, 
destined to New- York. Thompson cajue to our 
ship, to visit the miserable remnant of a \yM't 
of his gallant corps. The general had a special 
message to me, from my father, with whom he 
vrns Hitimate. Coming through Lancaster in 
his way, to his command in Canada, he was 
authorized by my father, if he saw me in that 
country, to furnish me with money. The £:ood 
in;in proffered me four Italf-johannes', one only 
was accepted. What was nearer and dearer to 
iToy heart, was the information, that my parents, 
relatives and friends were well. That money 
was applied to the use of my iuessiisati s, in <hc 
way of sea-stores. Permission bei.?g ubt. itj*^d, 
Boyd and myself, went ashore: our nurch-.s^'s 
consisted of a very large Ciieshire cheese, cohee, 



181 

t<5a and sugar, together with a lar^ roll 
of tohacco tor the men. Again pennyless, jolli- 
ty and mirth did not forsake us. 

We sailed on the tenth of August, convoyed by 
tlie Pearl frigate, captain M*Kenzie. Passiijg 
the delightful island of Orleans, much in shore, 
we observed the farmei*s reaping their wheats 
which, as we run along, we could observe the 
liaum, in many instances, was green towards the 
loot of the stalk. From this circumstance, it 
was conclude^l, that frequently, particularly in 
cold or wet seasons, the grain must be kiln-dried^ 
as is done in the north of England, and in Scot- 
land, before it is housed and threshed. The 
wbeat, though sown between the lifteentli and 
t^\entieth of May, and probably sometimes ear- 
lier or later, is weighty, and produces a very 
fi!ie white flour. Tfie voyage down the river, 
except a few boisterous days, was pleasant. We 
had some noble vicAvs, interspersed here and 
there with something like villages, chapels and 
farm-houses. Aftcr^vards, we had in prospect 
a bleak and dreary coast and country, whose 
craggedness inspired disaji^reeable sensations. 
Tiie greatest curiosities were the seals, whose 
history and manners were then known to me, but 
whose living form excited attention, as they 
w< rr creeping up or basking on the rocks. The 
porpoises pprfectly white, in vast droves, played 
before and around us, and drew my attention and 
sur^tr'sBe, as none but the black southern porpoise 
had b'^fare come under my view. To become a 
naturalist, it is necessary a man should travel; 
it was many years before books could persuade 
me of the existence of a green-haired monkey; 
b^it these were diminutive objects indeed in na- 
tjiire's scale^ of comparative imagery, when con- 
« 



182 

trasted Viiih the immense river Gadaracqua, or 
as it is now called St. Lawrence, second to no 
river in the world, unless it be the La Plata, of 
South America. Making this observation, you 
must understand me to include within it, the 
lake Superior, and the waters which feed that 
lake. Off Gaspy Point, where we soon arrived, 
in a due north line, across the island of Anti- 
costa, the river is about ninety miles wide. 
Steering with favorable weather, the island of 
St. Johns came in view; passing it, and the Gut 
of Canceaux, experiencing some stormy weather 
upon the ocean, and a few difficulties, we hap- 
pily arrived at New- York on the eleventh of 
^September, 1776, and anchored throe miles south 
of Governor's Island. Now it was, for the lirst 
time, that we heard of the dilemma in which our 
country stood. 

The battle of Long Island, on the twenty se- 
venth of August, had been unsuccessfully fought 
by our troops, many of whom were prisoners. 
In such hurrying times, intercourses between 
hostile armies in the way of negotiation upon 
an.> point, are effected with diffi/Milty. We had 
waited patiently several weeks, to be disemburk- 
ed on our own friendly shore; yet tantalized 
every day with re[)orts, that to-morrew we 
should be put on shore : some, and in a little 
while all, began to fear it was the intention of 
Get^oral Howe, to detain us as prisoners in ojijio- 
sition to the good will of sir Guy Carleton. This 
notion ha<l so strongly impressed the minds of 
jny friend doctor Thomas Gibson, and a young 
man called John Blair, of Bendrieks, that they 
d( It rif ined to escape from the ship. They were, 
footJf of them, athletic and able bodied men, and 
most adroit. Gibson planned the. manner of es- 



183 

(?ape ; its ingeiiiousness, hazard, boldness of exe- 
cution and eventual success, received the ap- 
plause of all, but was disapproved, upon the 
principle that it trenched upon their honor, and 
would impede our release. The story is this : 
Gibson and Blair, in the evening, dressed in 
shirts and trowsers, were upon the main deck 
with their customary flapped hats, on their 
heads. Gibson gave me a squeeze of the hand 
in token of farewell ; he was greeted kindly, for 
he was the brother of my soul. He and his 
companion went to the forecastle, where there 
were two large New-Foundland dogs, eaih of 
which had his party, or rather his partizans 
among the crew. These, the adventurers hiss- 
ed at each other. The dogs being engaged 
with their usual fury, attracted the attention of 
the sailors and many of the prisoners : they took 
this opportunity of stripping and letting them- 
selves down at the bow into the water. Lean- 
ing over the sides of the ship, in company of 
some friends, in the secret, and unregardful of 
the dogs, wc awaited the management of the 
flight. The last lighted cloud appeared low in 
the west. Something extraordinary passed along 
the side, a foolish fellow asked, ** what is that ?'^ 
<«a wave, you fool — a mere deception of sight,'^ 
was answered. It was the head of Gibson, cov- 
ered by his large black hat. Within a few yards 
of Gibson came Blair, but with a smaller hat, 
he was obvious ; his white skin discovered him, 
but luckily the attention of the <« ignoramus" 
was engaged another way. These daring men 
swam to the barge at the stern, entered it, and 
slipped the rope. They had rowed a thousand 
yards before the boat was missed. The other 
boats of our ship, and of those near us, were des- 



184 

patclied after tlic runaways, itA\*as too late, the 
fugitives had too much of a start to be easiJy 
overtaken. They landed, (having rowed about 
five nniles,) naked, in our own country, some- 
where in the vicinity of Bergen-neek, and bar- 
tered the boat for some ordinary clothing. They 
waited on general Washington, who disapproved 
of their demeanor. 

A short time after the foregoing occurrence, 
a most beautiful and luminous, but baleful sight 
occurred to us, that is, the city of New- York on 
fire. One night, (Sept. 22,) the watch on deck 
gave a loud notice of this disaster. Running up- 
on deck, we could perceive a light, which at the 
distance we Averc from it, (four miles,) was ap- 
parently of the size of tlie ilame of a candle. 
This light to me, appeared to be the burning of 
an old and noted tavern, called the <* Fighting 
Cocks," (w]iere, ere this I had lodged,) to the 
east of the battery, and near the wharf. Tiie 
wind was southwardly, and blew a fresh gale^ 
the flames at this place, because of the wind, in- 
creased rapidly. In a moment we saw another 
light at a great distance from the first, up the 
North river. The latter liglit seemed to be an 
original, distinct and new formed fire, near a cel- 
ebrated tavern in the Broadway called «< Y* hite- 
IlalK" Our anxii^ty for the fate of so fine a 
city, caused much solicitude, as we harboured 
suspicions that the enemy had fired it. The 
ilames were fanned by the briskness of the 
breeze, and drove the destructive effects of the 
element on all sides. When the fire reached thd 
spire of a large steeple, south of the tavern, 
which was attached to a large church, the effect 
upon the eye was astonishingly grand. If we 
oould have divested ourselves of the knowledge, 



185 

that it Mas the property of our fellow-cUizeiis 
Avhieh was consuming, the view might have 
been esteemed sublime, if not pleasing. The 
deck of our ship, for many hours, was lighted as 
at noon day. In the commencement of the con- 
flagration, we observed many boats putting oft* 
from the fleet, rowing speedily towards the 
city ; our boat was of the number. This circum- 
stance repelled the idea, that our enemies were 
the incendiaries, for indeed they professedly 
went in aid of the inhabitants* The boat re- 
turned about day light, and from the relation o^ 
the officer and the crew, we clearly discerned 
that the burning of New- York was the act of 
some mad-cap Americans. The sailors told us 
in their blunt manner, that they had seen one 
American hanging by the heels dead, having a 
bayonet wound through his breast. They named 
him by his Christian and sirname, which they 
saw imprinted on his arm ; they averred he 
was caught in the fact of firing the houses.. 
They told us also, that they had seen one per- 
son, who was taken in the fact,, tossed into the 
fire, and that severals who were stealing, and 
siispected as incendiaries, were bayonetted. 
Summary justice is at no time laudable, but in 
this instance it may have been correct.. If the 
Greeks could have been resisted at Persepolis, 
every soul of them ought to have been massa- 
cred. The testimony we received from the 
sailors, my own view of the distinct begin- 
nings of the fire, in various spots, remote from 
each ot]jcr, and the manner of its spreading^ 
impi'essed my mind with the belief, tliat the 
burning of the cily was the doings of the most 
low and vile of persons, for the purposes, not 
only of thieving, hut of devastation. This seem,- 
Q % 



186 

ed loo, the general sense, not only of the Brit- 
ish, but that oi' the prisoners then aboard the 
transports. Laying directly south of the city, 
and in a range with Broadway, we had a fair 
and full view of the whole process. The per- 
sons in the ships nearer to the towa than we 
were, uniformly held the same opinion. It 
ivas not until some years afterwards, that a 
doubt was created ; but for the honor of our 
country and its good name, an ascription was 
made, of the Uring of the city, to accidental cir- 
cumstances. It may be well, that a nation, in 
the heat and turbulence of war, should endeavor 
to prosiiotc its interests, by the propagating re- 
ports of its own innocency and prowess, and ac- 
rnsing its enemy of flagrant enormity and das- 
tardliness, (as was done in this particular case.) 
but when peace eomcs, let us, in God's name, do 
justice, to them and ourselves. Baseness and 
villany are the growth of all climes, and of all 
jiations. AVithout the most numerous, and the 
most cogent testimony, as the fact occurred 
within my own view, the eloquence of Cicero 
could not convince mc that the firing was acci- 
dental. Some time after the burning of the city, 
we understood that we were to be embarked in 
shallops, and landed at Elizabethtown-point. 

The intelligence, caused a sparkling in every 
eye. On the next day, about noon, we were ia 
the boats: — adverse winds retarded us. It was 
ten or eleven at night, before we landed; — the 
moon shone beautifully. Morgan stood in the 
bow of the boat, making a spring, not easily sur- 
passed, and falling on the earth, as it were to 
grasp it — cried ** Oh my country." AV'e that 
were near him, pursued his example. IVow^ a 
race commenced, which in quickness, covUi} 



187 

scarcely be exceeded, and soon brought ns t© 
Elizabethtown. Here, those of us >vho were 
drowsy, spent an uneasy night. Being unex- 
pected guests, and the town full of troops, no 
quarters were provided for us. Joy rendered 
beds useless, we did not close our eyes till day- 
light. Singing, dancing, the Indian halloo, in 
short, every species of vociferousness was adopt 
cd by the men, and many of the most respectable 
sergeants, to express their extreme pleasure. A 
stranger coming among them, would have pro- 
nounced them n"iad, or at least intoxicated ; 
though since noon, neither food nor liquor had 
passed our lips^ thus the passions may at times 
have an influence on the human frame, as ine- 
briating as wine, or any other liquor. The 
morning brought us plenty, in the form of ra- 
tions of beef and bread. Hunger allayed, my 
only desire was, to proceed homewards. Mo- 
ney was wanting. How to obtain it in a place, 
where all my friends and acquaintances were 
alike poor and destitute, gave me great anxiety 
and pain. Walking up the street very melan- 
choly, unknowing what to do, I observed a 
Avaggon, built in the Lancaster, county fash- 
ion, (which at that time, was peculiar in Jersey,) 
unloading stores for the troops, come or com- 
ing. The owner seeing me, grasping my hand 
with fervor, told me, every one believed me to 
be dead. Telling him our story in a compendi- 
ous manner, the good, old man, without solici- 
tation, presented me two silver dollars, to be 
repaid at Lancaster. They were gladly receiv- 
ed.=* My heart became easy. The next day, 
in company with the late colonel Febiger, and 

* See Note XVL 



188 

the present general Nichols, and some othet 
gentlemen, we procured a light re turn- waggon, 
which gave us a cast as far as Princeton. Here 
we had the pleasure of conversing with Dr. Wi- 
therspoon, who was the first that informed us, 
of a resolution of Congress to augment the ar- 
my. It gave us pleasure, as we had devoted 
ourselves individually, to the service of our 
country. The next day, if not incorrect, we 
proceeded on foot, no carriage of any kind he- 
iag procurahle. Night hrought us up at a farm- 
house, somewhere near Bristol, The owner 
was one of iiSf that is, a genuine whig. He 
requested us to tarry all night, which we de- 
clined. He presented us a supper, that was 
gratefully received. Hearing our story, he was 
much affected. We then tried to prevail on 
him, to take us to Philadelphia, in Iris light 
waggon. It was ohjetted that it stood loaded 
with hay in the harn iloor; his sons were asleep 
or abroad. AVe removed these objections, by 
unloading the hay, while this good citizen pre- 
pared the horses. Mounting, we arrived at the 
*rHarp and Crown," about two o'clock in the 
morning. To us, it was most agreeable, that 
Ave passed through tlie streets of Philadelphia, 
in the night time, as our clothing was not only 
threadbare but shabby. Here we had friends 
and funds. A gentleman advanced me a sum 
sufficient to enable me to exchange my leggins 
and mockasins, for a pair of stockings and shoes, 
and to bear my expenses home. A day and a 
half, brought me to the arms of my beloved pa- 
rents. 

At Philadelphia, I waited upon a cousin of 
my mother's, Mr. Owen Biddle, then a mem- 
ber of the <• Council of Safety," who informed 



189 

iiie, that while in captivity, he had procured 
me a lieutenancy. My heai't was otherwise en- 
gaged. Morgan the hero! had promised and 
ohtained for me, a captaincy in the Virginia- 
line. Following the fortunes of that bold and 
judicious commander, my name might have been 
emblazoned, in the rolls of patriotic fame. But 
alas! in the course of eight weeks, after my 
return from captivity, a slight cold, caught 
when skating on the ice of Susquehanna, or ia 
pursuing the wild-turkey, among the Kiftatinny 
hills, put an end to all my visionary schemes 
of ambition. This cause renewed that abomin- 
able disorder, the scurvy, (which I had sup- 
posed, was expelled from my system,) accom- 
panied by every morbid symptom, which had 
been so often observed at Quebec, attendant 
upon others. The medical men of all classes, 
being engaged in the army, that species of as- 
sistance was unattainable, in the degree requi- 
site, lameness, as you now observe it, was the 
consequence. Would to God ! my extreme suf- 
ferings, had then ended a life, which since, 
has been a tissue of labor, pain, and misery. 



NOTES. 



NOTE I. page 18. 



The gentlemen composing this party, were unwil- 
ling to impose upon me, any thing above my apparent 
strength, yet in the heyday of youth, I would clap a 
canoe on my back, and run a hundred yards across 
a carrying-place. This is done by a particular mode 
of management. There is a broad stave, some tning 
like a flour barrel-stave, but strait and thicker, w'th 
two perforations in it, an inch or more apart, towards 
tlie middle of the stave. A thong of stout leather is 
inserted through those holes, and tightly bound to the 
central cross-bar of the canoe. The carrier swings 
the canoe by a sudden jerk upon his shoulders, and 
wnich he can handle with ease, throwing the hollow 
side of the canoe on his back, the stave, if it may be 
so called, resting principally on the hind part of 
tlie head, and the prominences of the shoulders. 
Tims he may, if a strong man, pass over a consider- 
able space of ground of a difficult nature, in a short 
lime with much speed. 



NOTE II. page 23. 

In traversing this meadow, which was a beJiutifui 
plain, one of the party, found the horns of a moose- 



192 

deer, which from appearances had been shed in the 
foregoing summer, or perhaps in the beginning of 
autumn : being then about five feet ten inches high, 
■Getchell facetiously, yet gravely, insisted by way of 
measurement, that I should stand under the main 
fork. The crown of my head, rubbed against the 
crown-work of the horns. This to all of us, was mat- 
ter of great surprize. However, in a short time after- 
wards the circumstance of size, was thought little of, 
when we came into contact with the living animal, 
upon whose head such horns grew. There is a pau- 
city of words for a description upon paper, of the enor- 
mous dimensious of the male moose v^hich we saw, 
and of their horns. The male-deer bears horns ; the 
female bears none. Those horns, which we examined 
minutely, were of a large size, but not so large as 
some we saw on the living deer. About midway of 
"^hehom, from the crown of the head, there is a broad, 
flat part of the horn, called the blade, which, in the 
specimen under examination, was full two of my spans, 
or nearly twenty inches from whence branched the 
proud antlers or prong. There is no beast of the for- 
est more hand somely decorated, unless it be the 
rein-deer of the north of Europe and Asia. In the 
evenings, in the first asension of tlie Kennebec and 
JDead-rivers, sitting around our solitary smoke fires, 
we have often, seen those stately deer, passing the 
river in droves, sometimes of fifteen or twenty in num- 
ber, the one walking after the other in the accustomed 
path, but due care and discipline kept our arms quiet. 
The country around Natanis house, a circle of ten or 
fifteen miles, was at that time, an admn^able '» hunting 
ground." One day, suddenly passing a sharp point of 
the river, about five miles below Natanis cabbin, 
•we as suddenly fell back. We wanted fresh food, 
ilegardless oi what might follow, Steele permitted us 
to fire. We had seen five or six of those monstrous 
deer, standing in the water knee-deep, feeding on 
their favorite food, the red willow. Boyd, Wheeler 
and myself paf5sed the river, out of sight of the moose, 



193 

in the most cautionary manner. The stream here 
was not more than sixty yards "svide. We approached 
them through the thick underwood, which clothed 
the bank. Boyd preceded. The rustling of the leaves 
alarmed the deer. They threw up their heads. What 
a sight ! The antlers of several of them, seemed to 
exceed in size, those we had already seen. Boyd ap- 
prehensive they were about to run from us, fired with- 
out giving Wiieeler and myself, ^ui opportunity to take 
a stand, but the greatest misfortune was, that the 
worthy Boyd, had neglected to clean his gun that day. 
it made long fire, and but a trifling report. The bullel 
scarcely reached the deer. Wheeler and myself were 
creeping to our places, when Boyd's gun disturbed 
the animals. The guns in our hands, were ineffec- 
tually discharged. Tiiis jejune occurrence, is related 
merely, for the introduction of a single observation. 
When the bull moose, at the rustling of the leaves, 
and afterwards when Boyd fired, threw up their heads 
— the tips of their horns, seemed to me to stand eigh- 
teen feet in the air. The ridge of the shoulder, seem- 
ed seventeen hands high. The largest of these ani- 
mals was a lusii3 natura. The moose in ordinary, is 
of an ash-coiored grey. The one I speak of, was 
Becked, in large spots of red . on a pure white ground. 
His skin, if we could have obtained it, would have 
been a valuable curiosity. 



NOTE III. Page 29. 

The birch-bark-canoe, as intimated before, in the 
body of the work, is not only a curious, but a most in- 
genious machine. So far as my descriptive powers ex- 
tend, you shall have its construction, described in writ- 
ing, but without the aid of the pencil, it seems to be 
almost impossible to convey to you a just and accurate 
comprehension, of tlie distinct parts of tliis beamiful 
piece of water-craft. Having had several opportuni- 
ties to observe the manner of the fonnalion of the 
birch-bark canoe, m its various stages, a description of 
R 



194 

its sections may not be disagreeable to you. In the 
construction of the canoe, the bow and stern pieces are 
separate frames, aUke in dimensions, and made of 
oedar, cypress, or any other light wood ; yet very light, 
ai^ so well or tightly bound by tenons, as to require a 
considerable effort to break them. These bow and 
stern pieces, suppose a canoe of ten, or even fifty feet, 
are connected by laths, with that which I have called 
gunwales, (gunnels,) correspondent in size with the 
intended length of the canoe. These gunwales arc 
made from the toughest and best of the timber that the 
country produces. The gun-wales are strongly secured 
to the head and stern by tenons and the cedar root in 
a most neat and strong manner. The ribs of the canoe, 
according to its size, are from two to five inches in di- 
ameter, of the straightest cedar, or fir, without knots, 
closely fitted together, side by side, and well sewed by 
means of an awl to the gun-Wales. This frame is 
covered with the ycllow-birch-rind, an eighth, a sixth, 
cr a fourth of an inch thick. This bark, when applied 
to canoes, is from two to four feet in length ; commen- 
surate with the extension of the bow and stern from 
each other. Each part of this bark, where the seams 
meet, is nicely sewed together by the split cedar root, 
these seams are then pitched over in a ridge, by a 
hard pitch, in the width of perhaps an inch or more, so 
as to m^ake the vessel, truly that which seamen call 
water-tight. But to this clumsy attempt to describe 
to you a boat, which you have never seen, and perhaps 
never will see, it seems requisite to add another obser- 
vation. The bark which encircles the bottom of the 
canoe, is strongly attached to the gun-wales by cedar 
root, much in the same manner as I have seen you 
threadhig wire, for the making of artificial flovvcrs. 
This bark, thus prepared and applied, speaking com- 
paratively, (great vvith small,) is a much stronger ma- 
terial, than your thread, either of flax or silk. The 
gunwale v/as as neatly laced by the cedar, and almost as 
ornamental, and equally strong in texture, as the canes' 
we sometimes see from India, covered with splits of 



195 

ratteen, or some other pliant plant, of southern growtii- 
The paddles are unifoiTnly made of ash, where it can 
be obtained, but most usually of birch, or even of softer 
v/ood, in this part of Canada. Many of the paddles 
which I saw, were double-bladed, that is a blade at each 
end of the handle or pole, and in the hands of a stronc^ 
person would be from its formation, apparently as light 
as a feather. The pushing-pole was of the same kind 
of materials, but light, and if iroii could be had, was 
shod at the but-end. The rapid and rocky rivers which 
those poor people the Indians, must ascend and des- 
cend in their hunting excursions, and which they do 
with inconceivable dexterity, requires a quickness of 
motion of the body, particvilarly the arms, which is 
truly astonishing. The paddle, at this moment used 
on the right, and then instantly cast on the left hand of 
the canoe, requires a celerity of action which none but 
such as are used to those exercises dare undertake. In 
those instances the double-bladed paddle, saves half 
the time which v/ouid be employed by the single biad- 
ed, in these arduous but necessary labours. Activity 
and agility, from the circumstance, of the precarious- 
ness of an Indian life, and their manner of subsisting, 
become in their education a primary parental motive ; 
without those qualities, an Indian can never acquire fame, 
and is often starved. 

It often re-exhilirates my mind, when reflecting 
on the waywardness and unhappiness of my life, 
to remember the occurrences, (July 1773,) in a 
part of a days journey from the windlass of the old 
carrying place, on the south side of the river, west of 
Niagara, by a path which led us to a celebrated foun- 
tain, a little below the brow of the hill, called Mount 
Pleasant, and thence to the falls. My youthful imagi- 
nation was greatly excited. The company consisted 
of a French gentleman, my uncle John Henry, and my- 
self. The Frenchman was a trader who had but just 
arrived from the Illinois country, and had dealt beyond 
the Mississippi. When we came to Stedman's, his 
canoe, attended by three or four coururs dt bois, lay on 
the beach turnedjipside down, with an immense number 



196 

of packs oi beaver, press-packed, strewed around, per- 
haps the whole might have been 3000 lb. wt. The ca- 
noe was of birch, fifty feet in length, most beautifully 
made, its breadth was probably from six to seven feet 
in the middle, I examined with a curiosity, such as a 
boy of my age might possess. 



NOTE IV—Page 53. 

Morgan was a strict disciplinarian. Permit an 
anecdote. He had obtained the command of the rifle 
corps from Arnold, without any advertence to the bet- 
ter claim of Hendricks, who, though the youngest man 
was of the three captains, in point of rank, by the dates 
of commissions, the superior officer. Hendricks, for 
the sake of peace in the army, and of good order, pru- 
dently and good naturedly acquiesced in his assumption 
of the command, for Morgan had seen more service in 
Gur former wars. 

At this place, Morgan had given it out in orders, 
that no one should fire. One Chamberlaine, a worth- 
less fellow, who did not think it worth while to drav/ 
l/m bullet, had gone some iiundreds of yards into the 
woods, and discharged his gun. Lieut. Steele hap- 
pened to be in that quarter at the time ; Steele had but 
arrived at the fire, where we sat, when Morgan, who 
had seen him coming, approached our camp, aiid seat- 
ed himself within our circle. Presently Chamberlame 
came, gun in hand, and was passing our fire, towards 
that of his mess. Morgan called to the soldier — ac- 
cused him as the defaulter — this the man, (an arrant 
liar,) denied. Morgan appealed to Steele. Steele ad- 
mitted he heard the report, but knew not the party 
\Vho discharged the gun. Morgan suddenly springing 
to a pile of billets, took one, and swore he would knock 
the accused down unless he confessed the fact. In- 
stantly, Smith seized another billet, and swore he 
would strike Morgan if he struck the man. Morgan 
knowing the tenure of his ranlt, receded. Thrs was 



197 

the only spirited act I knew of Smith. Such were the 
rough-hewn characters, which, in a few subsequent 
years, by energy of mijid and activity of body, bore us 
safely through the dreadful storms of the revolution, 
Morgan was of an impetuous, temper, yet withal, pru- 
dent in war, as he was fearless of personal danger. 
His passions were quick, and easily excited, but they 
were soon cooled. This observation is applicable to 
many men of great talents, and to none more than 
Morgan. His severity, at times, has made me shudder, 
though it was necessary, yet it would have been a 
pleasing trait in his character, if it had been less rigid.- 



NOTE V. page 64. 

I cannot exactly recollect the timev but the records 
of Government will show, that this miserable man, 
was indicted of a burglary and convicted. His respect- 
able brother, Mr. Jacob Shaeffer of Lancaster, (Penn.) 
applied to me, to certify in his favor, [It was in 1780 
or 178 1 ,] to the president and council, who had the 
power of pardon. The representation was, in sub- 
stance similar to the present. This part of our trans- 
actions, rests in my memory; but the impression is 
so strong, that I cannot forget it. It gave me great 
pleasure to imagine, that probably I might again 
contribute to the saving the life of a man, which 4 
had actually saved once before. At that time, by our 
law, the punisliment of burglary was death, and my 
compatriot Shaeffer, was under that sentence. My 
soul was grieved. 

In a drunken, bout at Philadelphia^ he had blindly: 
stumbled into a house, which he took to be his lodg- 
ings. Here detected in one of the chambers, he was 
charged as a felon. Gracious God J upon the super* 
ficesof thy earth, there was- never a more unoflTending 
soul. He could scarcely see a yard before him; 

It has amused, and pleased me often, to hear that 
he extols me. He is now industrious. 



i98 

The fate of James WaiTier, (see p. 65.) among others, 
was really lamentable. He was young, handsome m ap- 
pearance, not n)orethan twenty-five years of age ; he was 
athletic and seemed to surpass m bodily strength. Yet 
withal, he was a dolt. His wife was beautiful, though 
coarse in manners. The husband on the other hand, 
was a poor devil, constantly out of view, or in the back- 
ground of the picture. 

We heard nothing of them after entering the marsh, 
and until a month had elapsed at Quebec. In Decem- 
ber, the wife or widow of poor James Warner, came 
to our quarters on the Low-grounds, bearing her hus- 
band's rifle, his powder-horn and pouch. She appear- 
ed fresh and rosy as ever. This arose from the reli- 
gious and gratuitous spirit of the Canadians. 

The story Mrs. Jemima Warner told, was extremely 
affecting, and may. be worth remembering, as it is 
something like a sample of the whole of our distresses 
and intolerable disasters. 

The husband was a great eater His stores of pro- 
visions, after the partition, at the bead of the Chau- 
^iere, were in a little time consumed. The consum- 
mate wife ran back from the marsh, and foimd her be- 
loved husband sitting at the foot of a tree, where he 
said he was determined to die. 

The tender-hearted woman, attended her ill-fated hus- 
band several days, urging his march forward ; he again 
sai down. Finding all her solicitations could not induce 
him* to rise, she left him, having placed all the bread 
in her possession, between his legs with a canteen of 
water. She bore his arms and ammunition to Quebec, 
where she recounted the story. The nephews of Na- 
tanis, afterwards at Quebec, confirmed the relation of 
this good woman. For when going up, and returning 
down the river with our inestimable friend M'Cleland, 
she urged them, suffused in tears to take her husband 
»n board. They were necessarily deaf to her entreaties. 
Thus perished this unfortunate man, at a period of his 
a^e, when tlie bodily powers, ai'e generally in their 



199 

lull perfection. He and many others, who died in 
the wilderness, lost their lives by an inconsiderate 
gluttony. They ate as much at a meal, as ought to 
have been in our circumstances the provision of four 
days, and a march of one hundred miles. Young men, 
without knowledge or a previous experience, are very 
difficult to govern by sage-advice, when the rage of 
hunger assails. 

To conclude this lengthy note, allow me to intro- 
duce to you, another instance of human misery, which 
came under my eye, in this dolorous and dreadful 
march. As was before observed in the body of the 
work « At the head of the Chaudiere, it was given 
©ut by the officers, that order would not be required 
ft'om the soldiery in the march. Sec." Yet the com- 
panies, being in the most part either fellow-townsmen, 
♦r from the same county adhered together, bound by 
that affectionate attachment, Avhich is engendered by 
the locality of birth, or the habitudes of long and se- 
vere services, in a communion and endurance of hard- 
ships and desperate adventures. It appears to me, to 
be a principle of the human mind, "that the more 
hardships we endure in company of each other, the 
greater becomes our esteem and affection for our fel- 
low-sufferers." For myself, this is said from experi- 
mented woe and extreme calamity. 

We had no path, the river was our guide. One day, 
tither the second or third of this march, a mountain 
jutt'ng in a most precipitate form into the river, com- 
peiied us to pass the margin of the stream upon a long 
iog, which had been brought thither by some former 
fi'eshet. The bark and limt)s pT the ti^ee had been 
worn away by the rubbings of\lie ice, and the trunk lay 
lengthwise along the narrow passage, smooth and slip- 
pery, and gorged the pass. This difficulty had col- 
lected here a heterogenous mass of the troops, who 
clamied the right of passage according to the order of 
cot'iing to it. The log was to be footed, or the water, 
of the depth of three or four feet, must be waded. 
Thei-e wa§ no alternative. An eastern man, bare-footed, 



200 

bare-headed, aiid thinly clad, lean and -wretched from 
abstinence, with his musket in hand, passed the log im- 
mediately before me. His foot slipped, and he fell 
several feet into the water. We passed on regardless 
of his fate. Even his immediate friends and comrades, 
many of whom were on the log at the same moment, 
did not deign to lend him an assisting hand Death 
stared us in the face. I gave him a sincere sigh at 
parting, for to lose my place in the file, might "have 
been fatal. Tins pitiable being died in the wilderness. 
The hard fate of many others might be recapitulated^ 
but the dreadful tale of incidents, if truly told, would 
merely serve to lacerate the heart of pity, and harrow 
up the feelings of the soul of benevolence. Tears 
many years since, have often wetted my cheeks, when 
recollecting the disasters of that unfortunate campaign, 
the memorable exit of my dearest friends, and of many 
worthy fellow-citizens, whose worth at this time, is 
embalmed solely in the breasts of their surviving as- 
sociates. Seven died sheerly from famine ; and many 
others by disorders arising from hard service in the 
wilderness. 



NOTE VI. Page 1 13, and NOTE XL Page 1 44.: 

In relation tq the small-pox, the circumstance about 
to be related, is most assuredly trucj as it is known to 
me of my own particular knowledge. A number of 
women loaded with the infection of the small-pox, came 
into our cantonments. 

In the spring of the year 1776, our army was reduced^ 
by decease of men, or debilitation of body, so that they 
couid not act effectively, and in the eyes of the world, a 
disreputable retreat took place, which it was not then, 
quite prudent to explain. Now it may be safely as- 
serted, that great numbers of the soldiers inoculated 
themselves for the small-pox, by laceration under the 
finger nails, by^ means of pins or needles, either to ob- 
tain an avoidance of duty, or to get over that horrib?e 
disorder in an easy and speedy way. 



NOTE VII, Page 123. -'Mll^^ 

"'A 

The death of my friend Boyd, was to me as a tnuiiT!^ 
derbolt ; painful in an excessive degree ; many a tear;^ 
has since been shed to his manes. In the autumn ofJ 
;1779, he commanded a company of rifle-men, of the?^ 
|,>iirst Pennsylvania regiment. When Sullivan had pen-;' 
etrated into the Seneca country, in the neighborhood 
■of the Genessee river. Boyd, as my information is; 
from various gentlemen;,^ was ordered with a band of'' 
twenty choice men, before daylight to make an excur-^ 
fcion towards an Indian village, on the river Genessee,; 
(which flows north into lake Ontario,) at a distance of ^ 
eight miles, for the purpose of making discoveries. In;« 
his return, arriving at a rising ground, a knoll, he heard ' 
a rustling of the leaves in his front : an enemy was sus-, 
pccted ; he gathered his men around him, each taking ; 
his tree. The enemy was sightless to Boyd, and his* 
party, yet the approach around him Wji.*; sensible to j 
every one. Boyd not knowing the number of his as-^i 
sailants, it is said, considered them as a small body of'^ 
observation. This party of Indians, probably one thou-* 
sand, encompassed Boyd and his men, gradually:- 
a defence worthy of the character of Boyd took place. - 
Every man he had was killed, except three, who broke 
through the Indians, and brought the doleful tidings to 
our camp, Boyd was taken, and carried alive, to the 
Indian-town, wiiere he was tortured after their savage 
custom, and his body mangled in the most horrible 
manner. General Simpson, who was then vv'ita the 
army, assures me, that on the following day, when the 
troops arrived at the town, in the wigwams, they foU';d 
a number of fresh scalps stretched in the usual man- 
ner Oi) small hoops, and painted. The head of Boyd- 
lay in oac of the cabins, newly dissevered. His scaip 
was still moist and hooped and painted. Simpson knevr 
it by its long brown and silky hair : it is now preserved- 
as a relic of our friend. An oiTicer, (caplam A. Hen- 
derson,) lately, in descr blng this unequal, but arduous 
fight, upon the part of Boyd, told me, « that the hands 



202 

of the dead men, in many instances, were fast closed 
upon the hair of Indians." 

To give you a more perfect idea of the brutality of 
savage torture, and of heart-rending sensations. I can 
do no better than to lay before you, the letter of the 
honorable Thomas Campbell, of the senate, who him- 
self has been a martyr in our cause. He saw the 
corpse of the unfortunate Boyd on the following day, 
and mterred it. Since the death of colonel Crawford 
we know nothing like the present martyrdom, in the 
cause of liberty ; and it is to be hoped, from the pru- 
dence and strength of the federal government, nothing 
of the kind will again occur in our future wars witli 
the aborigines of our country. 

"Senate Chamber, Lancaster 

" January 30M, 1809. 
"SIR, 

" Captain lieutenant Thomas Boyd, belonging 
" to the riflemen of the state of Pennsylvania, was most 
" inhumanly murdered by the Indians. His death oc- 
« curred on the 13th day of September, 1779, at the 
-^ Genessee Castle, on general Sullivan's expedition to 
« the north-west-ward, against the Six-nation Indians. 
" He was sent on the night of the 12th of September, 
« from the camp, near a lake called " Conesus," with 
«< a party of men, consisting of twenty soldiers, five 
« volunteers and an Indian chief, named Han-Jost, 
" belonging to the Oiieida nation : in all twenty-seven 
" in number They were sent by general Sullivan, 
" to reconn»itre an Indian-town, supposed to be about 
" six miles distant from the camp. On the morning 
i< of the 1 2th of September, the army took up the line 
" of march before sunrise, but marching a short dis- 
« tance, was obliged to halt, till the pioneers made « 
« bridge over a morass, otherwise the cannon could 
« not have been brought up. The town that captain 
" Boyd was taken to, was evacuated by all except 
" two Indians, one was on horseback, the otlier was 
" leading a cow. James Elliot and Timothy Murphy. 
« were sent tp stop them, thev both discharged their 



203 

" guns at the same time, the one that led the cow was 
<' killed, the other though severely wounded escaped. 
" Boyd returning slowly, expecting to meet the army 
« saw an Indian start up and i*un off. It was with great 
<' difficulty, that Boyd stopt the men from pursuit, at 
" the request of Han-Jost, who said the Indian was 
*< only " a runner^ * sent to draw them into an ambus- 
" cade. Eighteen of the soldiers Avere killed, and 
" Han-Jost the Oneida chief, was made a greater sa- 
« crifice, than any of the white men, who fell or were 
" taken at that place. 

" Captain Boyd and Michael Parker were made 
" prisoners, and taken to the Genessee Castle, and there 
« most inhumanly murdered. Boyd's head was tiakeh 
" off and totally skinned, his right eye was taken out, as 
" also his tongue. His right foot, from the ball of 
^' the heel to the toes, was laid open as if with a knife. 
'^ He was cut open across the bottom of his belly, and 
" his bo\Yels were taken out, and a very long knife, 
" was sticking in between his shoulders, descending 
•' to the vital parts. This seems to have been the 
'^ coup de grace. 

" General Simpson and myself, were sent to see 
" the corpse of Boyd interred. I spread a blanket on 
" the ground beside him, we then turned the corpse 
" over on it. I took the head of the deceased, and put 
« it as near the neck as possible. I procured a needl© 
" and thread from one of the taylors, and sewed the 
« corpse up as well as I could. As to the head of 
" Michael Parker, it could not be found. All the 
« flesh was cut out, from his shoulders downward, 
"' and otherwise his body was most inhumanly mangled. 

« We interred the corpses of both, near the Genes- 
" see Castle, in separate graves, on the 1 4th day of Sep- 
^< tember, 1779. 

"I am Sir, 

" Your humble 'Servant 

" THOMAS GAMPBELL. 
« Late a captain of the fourth 

« Pcnnsylva regimeni, 

*' To THE HON. JOHN JOS. HENRY." 



204 

Tholigh we have no account from an eye witness, 
of the barbarous manner in which captain Boyd was 
tortured, yet we may conceive from the appearance 
oi his body, that the most malignant and hellish pains* 
were exercised upon it. The being embowelled, con- 
veys an idea of a known mode of Indian torment : 
the fixing an end of the entrails to the stake, and com- 
pelling the prisoner by fire and blows, to run till the 
conglomerated mass is expended. Upon the subject 
of these tortures, look at Doctor Colden's History of 
the ]Mohawks, and Judge Smith's History of New- 
York. 

Colonel Cambell is of opinion, that the wound along 
the sole of captain Boyd's foot, was made before the 
savages brought him to their (Castle) or village. His 
reason is, that the wound was filled with bits of rotten 
branches of wood, and small pieces of leaves. The 
conjecture may be true, as Indian punishment, at its 
acme, is to give the greatest degree of pain. 



NOTE VIII. page 125. 



Of the treatment of Ethan Allen, at the time spo- 
ken of, we knew nothing but from report, which we 
then thought well-grounded, and the truth of which, 
at this day, there is no reason to doubt. He was a 
man of much peculiarity of character. Large, power- 
ful of body, a most ferocious temper, (fearing neither 
God nor man,) of a most daring coi*rage, and a 
pertinacity of disposition, which was unconquerable, 
and very astonishing in all his undertakings : v/ithal 
he had the art of making himself beloved, and revered 
by all his followers. When he was taken in the Isle 
of Montreal, in 1775, the government found it neces- 
sary to confine him in a cage, as one would a wild 
beast, and thus aboard ship, he was transported to 
Quebec. What his treatment was during this voyage 
to England, is unknown to me. 



209 

This however, is known, that for many yeavo, ht 
w^s a prisoner in England, returning from his capti- 
vity to America, he brought with him a manuscript, 
which he afterwards entitled "The Oracle of Rea- 
son.'* My beloved children, it is the furthest fi'om 
my thought, to confine your knowledge to narrow 
bounds ; when you dip into scriptural history, dip deep, 
do not skim the surface of the subject, as many fools 
have done of late days. Upon a thorough inquiry, 
your hearts will be animated by a conviction, that 
there came a Saviour to redeem you from eternal per- 
dition, and to provide for you, an eternal salvation 
and state of happiness. 

That book was most certainly the composition of 
Ethan Allen. He was very illiterate; he did not 
know the orthography of our language. The extent 
of his learning, probably bounded L^ some historic 
chronicles, and a few other books of little account, did 
not go beyond the scriptures. The gentleman, who 
gave me the above inform-ation, vvas a^i elegant scho- 
lar, bred at Harvard college. Going to New-York, in 
the summer of 1786, a friend from mere curiosity, 
requested me to purchase the book for him. Being 
detained at New-York six weeks by business, I fre- 
quently looked into the detestable volume. The argu- 
ment, if so diabolic a work, can be'^said to contain ar- 
gument, was in general arranged, and conducted in 
the same manner as the "Age of Reason," but in a 
coarser, and yet a more energetic language, than that 
of the latter work. On my return to Phiiadelphia, in 
a conversation with the Vermontese gentleman, v/hc> 
was still there, " Ethan Allen's bible," became a topic 
o^f discourse. He gave me thi^s curious anecdote, 
which he averi'ed upon his honor to be titie. A young, 
gentleman, either a scholar of Harvard or Yale col- 
lege had come into Vermont, and there taught a 
school. Allen labwed under the Nvant of an amanu- 
ensis and transcriber, of knowledge and learning 
The scholar to increase his emohiments, became such 
-Allen -attetxlcd. him daily, statiding staff in hand, aT 
S 



210 

the back of the young^man's chair. '' Sir,** he would 
say to Allen "this word is misspelled," "Amend 
it:" Again "this word is misplaced, the sense is in- 
correct, Sec. Alien, who was most profane, would 
swear (sometimes raising his staff) "By G * *• sir, 
you shall insert it ; you shall not alter it." Thus the 
"Oracle of Reason," came into the world; which, of 
all books, is the most bluntly vicious, as regards the 
well-being of society ; the salvation of souls ; and the 
happiness of those, who have faith in the redemption, 
by the blood of our Saviour. But that which is very 
remarkable, is, that long after the publication of Al- 
len's book, which had fallen into oblivion, even with 
its readers, that vile reprobate, Thomas Paine, loaded 
with every crime, which stains and dishonors the chris- 
tian and the gentleman, (in addition to his shameful 
practices in life, Paine, as an author, superadded 
plagiarism,) filched from Ethan Allen, the great 
body of his deistical and atheistical opinions, which 
from the time of Celsus, down to the age of Chubb, 
Tindal and others, have been so often refuted by men, 
of the utmost respectability of character and fame. 
When we reflect upon the vicissitudes of this v/orld, 
its immense revolutions in temporal affairs, the awful 
persecutions, which occurred in early times, the col- 
lisions of opinion and party rage, in the article of re- 
ligious belief; and the vast body of martyrs, who de- 
voted their lives in support of their faith, ii'e must 
believe, that there is something more than ordinary; 
something really Divine in the system of our religion, 
springing from God himself. In the last ages, we 
know of many of both sexes, of the soundest and best 
instructed minds, whom it is almost needless to name, 
unless it be merely for the purpose of opposing their 
virtues and characters, to persons of a different mode 
of thinking. All of them posse«sed a firm and solid 
credence, in the celestial origin of our hoiy-faith, and 
some of them sealed their creed with their blood. 
When such men suffer because of principle, some 
reliance should be placed on their good sense and 



211 

knowledge. The terms enthusiasm and madness, have 
been too often coupled ; as conveying the same idea : 
George Fox, captain Meade, and William Penn, have 
been called enthusiastic madmen, but we now know^ 
that they acted through the course of the religious 
parts of their lives, from a conviction of the principles 
of ihe gospel, being genuine and absolutely true- 
However, on this subject, but a fev/ names need be 
repeated to convey to your m.inds its importance and 
solemnity. Many of the greatest men, as it concenis 
worldly things, were christians. John Huss, Jerome 
of Prague, Martin Luther, John Calvin, Cranmer, 
Hooker, Tiliotson, of the clergy; of the laity. Sir 
Thomas Moore, Sir Matthew Hale, Spangenberg, Mos- 
heim, Joseph Addison, Richard Steele, Lord Henry- 
Littleton, Soame Jenyns, and thousands of others, all 
men of profound learning, have testified by their lives 
and writings, a reliance on the merits of the redemp- 
tion by the blood of Christ Jesus. But when vv'e find 
those men, supporter and re-inforced, by two of the 
strongest minded men, that ever lived; Sir Isaac 
Newton and John Locke, who can doubt ? When we 
contrast their opinions, with those of Hobbs, Chubb, 
Henry St. John, Voltaire, J. J. Rousseau, Beringer, 
the great Frederick of Prussia, or Mr. Gibbon, how 
deepiy do the last not sink, by the weight of reason 
and ivrgument ? Allen and Paine, are paltry wretches, 
mere scribblers, if classed with the men last named. 
Those were beautiful writers, whose language fasci- 
nates, but corrupts the youthful mind, tiiese are dull 
plodders, who know riOt the principles of their mother 
tongue ; but it is perhaps from the circumstance of 
iiliterateness, that Allen and Paine, have attacked 
Christianity in so gross and indecorous a reanner. The 
maniac Paine, when confined m the prison, Concier- 
gerie, at Paris, seems to boast "that he kept no Bi- 
ble." This may be true. But the expression shows, 
that his proper place instead of a conrmon jail, should 
have been a mad-house. 



212 

^ It shew S' however, a vanity of mind beyontl the "bear- 
ing of men of understanding. Indeed he was inflated 
by a supercilious pride, and an imaginary importance, 
Vv'hich made his society undesirable. He was one of 
that class of men, who with a small spice of learnhig, 
in company, domineered as if he had been a Johnson, 
lie was almost unbearable to many men, who patron- 
ized him, because of the good effect of his works dur- 
ing. the rcvohition. To give you a fev/ instances ; the 
I.ate David Rittenhouse, Esq. one of the most amiable, 
yiost ingenious and best of men, treasurer of the state, 
Oeorge Bryan, Esq. the vice-president of the council, 
0- man of great reading and much good sense, Jona* 
than Sergeant, the attorney general of Pennsylvania, 
whose oratorical powers, could scarcely be surpassed, 
nnd your gi^nd-father, and many other gentlemen of 
character, during the course of the years '77, '78 and 
^7*9, were in habits of intimacy with him, but his dog- 
matic disposition and obstinacy of mind, frequently 
caused great disgust. Again,*. colonel Samuel Johr^ 
ALti^o.^aa c:«:eilent pgtriot,^ and a.nian of note among 
XiS, both in the military and civil capacities of a citi-i 
zen, gave this anecdote to me, a few months after, 
the occurrence happened. , Though all the gentlemei-i 
present, approved of the writings of Paine, as they 
^:oncerned our political state, tor they y/erc all of thenx 
to a man, good whigs, yet they abhorred him, because 
of his personal aberi-ations irom virtue, and the decen- 
cies of social life. A Mr. Mease of Philadelphia, who 
"was clothier general, had invited a number of gentle-. 
men of the army, then in the city, to dine wkh him. 
Among whom were colonel Attlee, colonel Francis. 
Johnson^ generaj Nichols, and many members of the le-' 
gislature of whom there was Matthias Slough olLancas- 
ler. You may readily suppose, that the excellent wine of 
Mr. Mease, exhilarated the company. When return- 
ing to their lodgings, colonel Attlee observed Paine 
coming towards them down Market-street. There 
comes '» Common Sense," says Attlee to the com- 
rany. '• Damn iiim, says Slough, I shall common 



213 

sense him." As he approached the party, they took 
the wall. Mr. Slough tripped him, and threw him 
on his back into a gutter, which at that time, was 
very offensive and filthy. 

This is told, to communicate a trait to you, in the 
character of Thomas Paine, v/ho did some good, but 
a vast deal of harm to mankind, " that the very people 
who' were most benefitted by his literary labours, hat- 
ed him." The company I have spoken of, were all 
men of eminence in the state ; men who staked their 
a//, on the issue of the revolution. The writings of 
Paine as concerns us, are many of them handsomely 
worded, have pith and much strength of argument, 
and are in general correct, yet his domestic life and 
manners, were so very incorrect, that a disgust, which 
was perhaps right, destroyed every favorable person- 
al feeling towards him. His indelicacy was intoler- 
able. His numbers of Common Sense, the Crisis, and 
some other of his fugitive pieces, every American 
who recollects those " trying times," must acknow- 
ledge to have been extremely beneficial to our cause^ 
Tills has often been admitted by our generals Wash- 
ington, Gates, Greene, &C. but he was compensated, 
and had the secretaryship for foreign affairs. Like all 
men of bad principles, he betrayed his trust, and a 
virtuous Congress displaced him, yet the different 
states, more than remunerated him for all his writings. 

So it is, that that man, wiio was without virtue, a 
disturber of society, an ill husband, an uinvorthy citi- 
zen, cloaked by every vice, would now by his *' Age 
of Reason," which he stole from the ignorant Etiian 
Alien, who was as iniquitous as himself, destroy the 
peace of mind, and all the hope of happiness in futii- 
rity, of those who rely on the redemption of their 
souls, by the blood of Christ ; and that, without sub- 
stituting or even suggesting, nny other manner ot 
faith, tending to quiet the minds of sinners. I knew 
Paine well, and that persor.aliy, for he iodgtd in the 
house of my father, dur'ing the time that general 
Howe and Clinton, were in Philadelphia. His host 
S iJ 



214 

often regretted the entertainment he g-avo liim. Ills 
manners were in opposition and hostile to the obser-- 
vances of the proprieties and due ordinances of social 
life. Many who appr^<ed of hia political writings, 
abominated his detestable mode of living and actiwg. 
[I am justified in using these expressions, by an oc- 
currence in 1794, with my own mother. She was a wo- 
vnan of strong understanding, and of unfeigned and ri- 
gid belief m the truths of Gospel-history, yet a dis- 
passionate placid and mild religionist. Her heart was 
so free from thinking ill of any one, that of a truth, of 
her it might be, said "she knew no guile." One day 
going to a boo^'jcseller's in Lancaster, I met with an 
extract in the shape of a pamphlet of Doctor Joseph 
Priestley's " History of the Corruptions of Christianity." 
Never having seen afiy of that gentleman's polemic 
works, it was purchased. My mother as usual, came 
in, in the evening, to sit and converse with my family. 
I was reading the pamphlet. " What have you got V 
« A work of Doctor Prie3tley*s on religion." I was 
then at the chapter of the " Doctrine of the Atone- 
in ci)t of Christ," for the sins of the world. The title 
<ji the chapter excited the attention of my mother. 
Before she came in, the passage had been partly per- 
il sed, and she eagerly asked me " to read the whole of it 
to her?" I began, but had scarcely proceeded through 
V\vo or three pages, when she rapped the book from 
!.\y hands, and threw it into the fire, where it was 
:riOst deservedly burned. Smilingly, I said mother, 
,yhy do you destroy my book ? The reply was v^'ith 
in observable degree of anger, " because your book 
vvould destroy my happiness, in this and the world to 
ccme ! I know that I have a Saviour, who redeemed 
.me, whose blood v/as shed upon the cross for me: of 
this, I am convinced. Your book goes to make me 
doubt of the merits, of the sufferings, of that Saviour. 
The book would deprive me of ihe only staff, upon 
v/hich my hope of salvation rests, and gives me none 
other, upon v/hich I can lean." These notions of my 
beloved iTvothcr, which nccordcd fully with my ov/n* 



215 

on that topic, were submitted to with i\ juvenile frank- 
ness, which pleased her, and of ail the world, I knew 
none whom I so much wished to oblige, as that dear, 
amiable and instructive mother. My father had been 
a mechanic of much respectability, and great skill. 
During the war, usually called " Bradock's war," and 
afterwards in Forbes' campaign, (in 1758,) he was at 
the head of the armoury, which in those days, was no 
mean station, and required tdents of a superior grade. 
Afterwards, having made a tolerable fortune, he en- 
tered into trade, but his inclinations led him into chy- 
mical experiments. His evenings and mornings, were 
deroted to the laboratory. This gave rise to my mo- 
ther's acquaintance with Mr. Priestly, as an experi- 
mental philosopher. For the instruction of his child- 
ren, my father would discourse upon the subjects of 
science and particularly of chymistry, which was his 
favorite theme, and in which the names of Franklin 
and Priestley, were sure to stand foremost. My be- 
loved parent's manner, showed me that she was stung 
to the quick. My apology to her, had the desired 
effect, as her curiosity and mine, sprung from similar 
motives " a desire to know the religious opinions of 
a man, of v/hom we had had superlative ideas," be- 
cause of his acquirements in many other branches of 
knowledge. 

The position wished to be proved to you, by this 
relation ; which is true, is '♦ that for the sake of pub- 
•'i lie and private com.fort and genial happiness, it is 
'■i better not to disturb the devout mind by fanciful and 
•^newfangled schemes of belief, and that those should 
»' be open only to the eyes of the learned 1" My mother 
was a person of extensive reading; her religious ten- 
ets and faith, were solely grounded on the scriptures, 
of the Old and New Testaments, as these in her mind, 
were considered as clearly correct, but nevertheless, 
she was fearful of a disturbance of her mind by the 
quirks and quibbles of deistical scribblers. Therefore 
to interfere with her devotional principles, in so rude 
^nd heterodox a manner, t-euded to dsrani^e her charm- 



216 

ing mind, and devastate those elegant maxims of Chris* 
tian belief, which the excellency of her maternal edu-- 
cation had infused into her heart ; in short, to destroy 
that firmness, with which she relied on the merits and 
sufferings of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Such men as Hobbs, Chubb, he. seem not to have 
reflected on the dreadful ills and calamities, their writ- 
ings would create, if their books came into general 
circulation. If they did reflect, posterity ought to con- 
sider them to have been the tygers and hyenas of hu- 
man society, opposed to the well-being of the human 
race. Voltaire and John James Rousseau, in my hum- 
ble opinion, intended well to the people of France, 
but when speaking of those gentlemen, we should re- 
collect, that they, as well as the virtuous and celebrat- 
ed Montesquieu, were the subjects of a prince, who 
might if he pleased, be despotic : but that which was 
still worse, was, that the people were abandoned to 
the control of a theological aristocracy — bigoted, weal- 
thy, imperious and scandalously subjected to vices, 
in many instances, greater than those of laymen, inso- 
much, that in the reign of Louis XIV. because of 
the infamous lives, and the oppressions of ail classes of 
the nation by the clergy, there w?tS scarcely a gentle- 
man in the kingdom, who was not deistlcaily inclined. 
For when the ministers of a religion of so high sanc- 
tity, as that of our Holy Faith, demean themselves 
in a manner, which evinces to laymen, their waht 
of confidence in the religion, (which they had been 
consecrated to propagate and enforce,) by an unholy 
life and conduct, particularly in their cruel exactions, 
from devotees ; in the latter instance, of enormous 
fees, and various demands of tithes of a most exorbit- 
ant nature, which from time to time, they wickedly 
usurped. Hence, it arose that Monte squeiu, Voltaire, 
Diderot, Rousseau, and hundreds of others, of the 
learned men of France, (considering the state of that 
government,) formed a phalanx of historjc knowledge, 
genuine reasoning, true wit, and an in^xiiaustable 
fund of humor, whicii slurred their oppoaunts to such 



217 

ik decree, as in the minds of the generality 'of Eurape 
gave them a deserved victory even over the govern- 
ment, which supported the theocracy, with its yast 
power. It also most probably, came from thence, 
that those men under the clerical persecutions raised 
against them, (for many were confined in the dunge- 
ons,) in the heat of controversy, emitted opinions and 
ideas, inconsistent with our pure simple and holy reli- 
gion, according to the Augsburg creed, which Ave 
know, has been adopted, either in the whole or in 
part, by all the reformed churches. In polemic dis- 
putes, and perha^is more particularly? in those which 
happen in monarchies, there is an acrimony and iras- 
cibility of temper, inflaming the minds of men gener- 
ally, greater than is t?he cuse in democracies. The 
cause seems to be, that in monarchies, the piiesthood 
becofries a macliine of government, in democracies, it 
is the vehicle, by which the people simply adore God. 
. Those controversies, between the so styled philoso- 
phers of France and the clergy, were conducted With; 
such hatred, and obloquy towards each other, that 
they elicited imparks, which enkindled that nation^ in- 
ai dreadful il'am.e of internal destructioii^ and't'Iie brand: 
has not .only communicated ittsCu'toall Europe, but ia" 
i^cueral to .th.e-w'ovla ?X large. Since the time of Juii-i 
us Ca^sary nothing has occurred equal in barbarity,' 
irruptipnj bloodshed, murder, by public or domestic 
treason, as that which has happened m Europe, since' 
the year 1789. Gracious and omnipotent God, restore? 
the peace of the woiid i i '] 

Such is the rnaii, who upon his slight intercourse 
with the American people, piumlng himself, with the. 
w(;li-earned cciobrity of bis pbiitical pieces, that now 
presumes to become a reformer of our morals, our 
religious opinions and thinkings on Divine subjects : 
He himseh" a reprobate, cloaked by every vice, would 
dictate to a great and independent christian people, 
their formulary of belief Such insolence and pre- 
sumpiion, was never before witnessed unless it was 
in tiie instance of Mahomet, Or ia those of the im- 



218 

postures, (such as Sabbati Sevi,) who frequently as 
Messias, appeared to deceive the remnant of the Jew- 
ish people. Paine with all his other vices had a foible 
injurious to our country. To keep up the spirits of 
the people it was requisite, that there should be a 
series of patriotic publications. Paine was the most 
indolent of men ; if he was inspired by a muse, the 
goddess most certainly, made him but few visits. Tlie 
office of " secretary of foreign affairs," was confer- 
red upon him, because of the merit of his « Common 
Sense," or what are called the « Crisis," under the 
signature of " Common Sense." It was to him per- 
sonally a sinecure. He never went to York (Penn.) 
where Congress then sat, but occasionally, and staid but 
a day or two. His true employment, v/as that of a poli- 
tical writer. In the summer and winter of 1777, and 
1 778, he was an inmate of my father's house, as v/ere 
the late David Rittenhouse, the state-treasurer, and 
John Hart, a member of the then " executive-coun- 
cil." 

Paine would walk of a morning until 1 2 o'clock ; 
come in and make an inordinate dinner. The rising 
from table was between two and three o'clock. He 
would then retire to his bed-chamber, wrap a blanket 
around him., and in a large arm-chair, take a nap, of 
tw o or three hours — rise and walk. These walks, and 
his indolence, surprised my parents ; they knew him as 
the author of " Common Sense," who had written patri- 
otically, and in those writings, promulged some moral 
and religious ideas, which induced them to believe he 
was an orthodox christian. Indeed Paine, during the 
revolution, was careful to emit no irreligious dogmas, 
or any of his late diabolic ideas ; if he had, the good 
sense of the American people, their virtue, and un- 
feigned worship of the Deity, would have, in those 
days, banished him from their country. Your grand- 
father's feelings a few months before his death, (which 
occurred on the 15th of December, 1786,) v/hen speak- 
ing of the unbeliever (Paine,) v>'ere truly poignant ; for 
nov/ the wretch's true character had began to open on 
the world. He lamented with tears, that he had ever 



219 

admitted him into his house, or had a personal acquaint- 
ance and intercourse with him. He was from convic- 
tion, a sincere christian, converted by the scriptures ; of 
a strong mind, and of a most tender conscience. 

Do not permit any thing now said, to induce you to 
undervalue the sagacity of my father, for he was wise : 
but of so benevolent a mind, that in the common affairs 
of life, he held a principle in morality as true, which is 
by no mean generally received ; to wit, " That we 
should consider every one as possessing probity, until 
we discover him to be otherwise." Other gentlemen 
think differently. However, it may well be maintained 
that the side my father took on this topic, which I have 
often heard argued, accords with the true spirit of the 
gospel, the other ^ide is stoicism. From these last 
observations, you will readily perceive how easy it was 
to impose on my father. This is the reason for his 
entertaining Paine. I have said that Paine was indo- 
lent. Take this as an instance : The Crisis, No. V, is 
but a short political essay, to be sure of great skill in 
the composition, of much eloquent invective, strong 
reasoning, some historic anecdote, and a fund of ridi- 
cule v/hich fitted the passions of the times. But recol- 
lect that this piece, to Paine, was a labour of three 
months in the enditing. It was written in my father's 
house. Mr. D. Rittenhouse inhabited the front room, 
in the upper story, where was the library. There he 
kept the office of the treasury of Pennsylvania. The 
room of Mr. Hart and Paine, was to the left hand as 
you come to the stair-head entering the library. 

When my wound in 1778, was so far mended, that 
hobbling on crutches, or by creeping up stairs, (as you 
may have seen me of late years do,) my greatest recre- 
ation in my distressed state of mind, was to get into 
the chamber of Mr. Rittenhouse where the books were. 
There, his conversation, (lor he was most affable,) en- 
livened my mind, and the books would so amuse it, 
that it became calm, and some desperate resolutions 
were dissolved. While that excellent man was em- 
ploying his hours in the duties of his office, for the 



220 

benefit of the people, Paine would be snoring away his 
precious time in his easy chair, regardless of those in; 
junctions imposed upon him by congress, in relation to 
his political compositions. Ills remissness, indolence 
or vacuity of thought, caused great heart-burning 
among many primary characters, in those days. I ItUv^ 
heard the late George Bryan, Esq. then vice-president 
of the council, speak of his gross neglects with remark* 
able harshness. I would sometimes go into Paine's 
room, and sit with him. His Crisis, N6. V, lay on 
his table, dusted : to-day three or four lines would be 
added, in the course of a week, a dozen more, and so on. 
No. V. is dated 2 1st March, 1778, but it was not pub- 
lished until some months after that date, and it was 
generally thought by good whigs,4.hat it had been too 
iong delayed. For my own part, I was so passionately 
engaged at heart, in the principles of our cause, that 
Paine'ii^manner of living and acting, gave me a high 
disgust towards him. No idea could enter my mind, 
that anyone in that noble struggle could be idle or. 
disengaged. As to myself, my sensations were such, 
that the example of a Dccius ' might htivc been re- 
newed. 



NOTE IX. page 130. 

I have related this as I received it — from my own 
knov^ledge, I can say nothing — I leave to the world 
to detei'minc the credibility the story is entitled to. 



NOTE X. Page 132. 

In former times, as now, lying was in vogtic, but 
inethinks within the ia.st thirty years, there have been 
vast improvements in the art. Receive information of 
two instances, which were somewhat remarkable in 
those days. Simpson, one of the most spirited and ac- 
tive of officers— •always alert— isil^ays cm duty? was frj»- 



221 

duced and vilified for a want of courage, because ht, 
was not taken a prisoner at Quebec. This small can- 
ton, (Paxton,) was bursting with the falsehoods propa- 
gated on thie subject. On the other hand, captain M. 
Smith, our commander, was applauded for his immense 
bravery she^vn in the attack of that place, when in facti 
he was on the isle of Orleans, many miles distant from 
the city. Simpson had been commanded to that place 
by a regular order from colonel Arnold. Captain 
Smith skulked thither illicitly. Here is a fac-simile, 
as to orthography of Arnold's order to Lieut. Simpson, 
which I took from the original now in his possession. 
On my part, it seems to be a duty to make it known to 
you in justification of an excellent patriot, one of ray 
friends from early youth. 

•** Lieut. Simpson, 

** SrK— You are to proceed to Orleans, and take 
<< charge of the men there, and keep all provisions from 
« going to town : you will be assidzous in gaining the 
*' esteem of the inhabitants, who are now complaining 
« that they have been treated in a rigorous manner: 
" for provisions or assistance, you receive from them, 
*< you will pay them the value, or give orders on me for 
« the ybr //^^ same I make no doubt but you will endea- 
'-^ vour to cultivate the friendship of the people as far as 
« is consistent with your duty. You will be careful/ to 
^* keep your men under strict discipline, and not suffer 
'' them to have too much liquor. I am told there has 
" been open house kept there. You will use as much. 
" oeconomy as is consistant with our cwrcumstances," 
" I am, 
"Sir, 

" Your humble servant, 

«B. ARNOLD, Col,' 
« December 29, 1775.'* 

[This rigtr was administered by a VVilliam Cross, 
yur third lieutenant, with as free a hand as he was lax 
*n his priucipies of morality. Cross was a handsome 
T 



222 

little Irishman, always neatly dressed, and commanded 
a detachment of about twenty men. The Canadian 
gentlemen, who came as agents from the islanders on 
this occasion, stated that Cross had extorted from them 
their wmes and other liquors, and all kinds of provi- 
sions, which he lavished on worthless people ; making 
no compensation for his exactions. This was rigor 
indeed ! for the people of the isle were our friends. In 
short, this unworthy officer kept " open house," and 
had a short, b\it a luxurious and merry reign over that 
•charming spot. He was not with us at the attack of 
the city, but gaily danced his way to quarters.] 

Smith wrote but Simpson acted. A letter from 
Smith to a worthy and patriotic clergyman, the Rev. Mr. 
Elder, of Paxton, which was filled with bombast and 
trash, and stuffed with the most flagrant untruths ; that 
he was in the "midst of the battle—covered by smoke ; 

bullets of all sizes playing armmrl him, 2CC. &.C." every 

tvord of which was fabulous. This person was among 
the last of those savage men, who murdered the inno- 
cent and unoffending Indians in the jail of the town we 
i^ow live in. They have all died miserably ; but a few 
remaining to relate the anecdote of the occurrence of 
that horrible massacre. 

NOTE XII. page 168. 

The late captain Thomas Boyd, the strongest and 
largest man among us, when coming to the air, frequent- 
ly fainted ; one Rothrock of Morgan's, had so foeted 
a breath, that it was disgusting to enter the room he 
inhabited ; one of Lamb's company, lost his gums and 
some of his teeth, all were loose, of which, I am c^r- 
tarn as his moutl> was examine^ by me. 

NOTE XIII. page 170. 

A 

This gentleman was 6 feet 4 or 5 inches high, anr! 
as well proportioned. His disposition, was a kindly 



223 

«ne. He spoke his own language admirably, and 
French fluently, 'but no English. Knowing from his 
military dress and manners, that he was a Gerrpan. 
I was induced to address him in that language. He 
appeared astonished, yet pleased at hearing his own 
tongue from an American lad — inquired concerning 
Pennsylvania, our way to Quebec, &c. but seemed 
apprehensive of the jealousy of the English officially, 
who did not understand us. The Baron Knyphausen 
wanted an interpreter. Captain Prentis, who was re- 
ally my friend made me the proposition, as from the 
Baron, and used various arguments to induce a com- 
pliance,- all of which were spurned. In 1778 or 1779, 
I had again the pleasure of seeing the major at Lan- 
caster, in the company of my father, but he was then 
a prisoner. 



NOTE XIV. page 173. 

Red willow (Salix purpurea.) This shrub, which 
is a native of the United States, is spread throughout 
©ur climates. The outer bark, of a deep red color, 
peels in a very thin scale, the inner is scraped off with 
a knife, and is dried either in the sun or over the fire. 
The scent when burning, is delightful. To increase 
the flavor, the Indians pluck the current years branch- 
es of the upland sumach, and dry it in bunches over 
the smoke of a fire. A half part of Red-willow bark, 
added to as much of the dryed sumach forms the kille- 
kinic. Those ingredients added to a third part ot leaf to- 
bacco, and the mass rubbed finely together in the palm 
of the hand, makes that delicious fume, so fascinating 
to the red, and also to the white men. . Care must be 
taken by the consumer, not to use the swamp sumach 
(Rhus Vernix) for the upland (Bhus GlabruinJ as 
the former is most poisonous, and resembles the lat- 
ter, in the bark and leaf so much, that an incurious 
eye, might be deceived. The diff*erence to a stranger 
may be distinctively marked by observing, that the 



224 

baach of berries of the upland sumach, is a cone 
closely attached to each other, and when ripe of a red- 
dish color. The berries of the swamp sumach, hang 
loosely pendant, from a lengthy foot-stalk, and when 
ripe, are of a greenish-grey : at least I never saw the 
berry in any other state. The unhappy person, who 
would employ the swamp sumach in smoking, would 
forfeit his eyesight. This truth I had from Natanis in 
Canada, and it has since, many years ago, been con- 
firmed to me by the celebrated Seneca " The Corn- 
planter." You know the experience of our own fami- 
ly, when clearing the swamp, as to the deleterious qua- 
lities of the wood as fuel : your mother suffered great- 
ly from its poisonous vapors. The moose-deer prefer 
the red-willow as food ; we most frequently observed 
them in its neighbourhood. The vanilla of South Ame- 
rica, has been applied by the Spanish mannfartors of 

tobacco, in various >rajra, it is atiiuige, that We haVG 

never assayed the Killekinic. 



NOTE XV. page 174. 



It will perhaps be proper to give you an idea 
of t^e parole exacted at that time. " We whose 
« names are hereunder written, do solemnly' pro- 
'< mise and engage, to his excellency general Carle - 
« ton, not to say or do, any thing against his majes- 
<* ty's person or government; and to repair whenever 
" required so to do by his excellency, or any of his 
*» majesty's commanders in chief in America, doth 
" please to direct, in testimony of which, we have 
" hereunto set our hands this day at Quebec. August 
•< 7th, 17^6. 

J. J. H. &c.*' 

I received the original paper in 1778, in conse- 
quence of an exchange of the St. Jehu's prisoners for 



225 

NOTE- XVI. page \87. 

Who do you think this was ? Why Stephen Lutzv 
of Lancaster — poor but indu-strious. I have thanked 
him a thousand times since, and have had the pleasure 
of obfiging hiin. 



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